AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATION BAFFA, MANSEHRA

Functions

Agricultural Research and Development

Objectives

• To evolve new varieties of crops, vegetables and fruits.
• To devise adaptability studies on cereals, oilseeds, vegetables, pulses and fruit plants under the varied agro-ecological zones of Hazara Division.
• To develop intensive cropping systems for the replacement of mono cropping system in the sub- mountainous areas of Hazara Division.
•  To conduct adaptive research trials, trainings and field days seminars etc through ADP.
• To produce disease free and true to type quality fruit plants’ saplings.
• To produce certified basic and pre-basic seed of cereal vegetable and other crops.
• To determine the fertility status of soil and to formulate the fertilizer recommendations for crops.
• To devise and execute IPM programmes in crops and fruits.  
• To develop production technology packages for field crops and fruits.

Vision / future plan

Improvement of the socio- economic conditions of the farming community through innovative research/ideas/technologies and adaptation of the modern national and international innovations under the local available resources and prevailing environment.

Achievements

• Varieties developed: Lentil (Mansehra 89) and Rice (pakhal).
• Introduction of Intensive Cropping System to Replace Mono-cropping pattern in the mountainous and sub-mountainous regions of Hazara division.
• Introduction of tobacco crop in the area.
• Conducted trials on the adaptability and refinement   of Country top ranking varieties including Wheat (PS 2005, 2008, 2013,PK 2015,NIFA LALMA 2013, Shahkaar, Sehr, Bakhtawar 92, Inqalab 91 etc),
• Maize (Azam, Iqbal, Jalal, Pahari ) Rice (JP-5, Fakhre Malakand), Onion (Swat 1, Pulkhari), Okra (Swat Green, Sabz Pari).
• Wheat lines in KPWY Trial.03
• Wheat lines in Crop Disease Research Institute (CDRI)  06
•  Barley advance line is under observatory research trials.     01
•  Maize BMS-01 (Baffa Selection)                      01
•  Garlic BGS-01                                                    01
• Onion BOS-01                                                      02
•  Pear rootstock, BPRS-01 (Mamassii)                 01
• Conducted more than 4000 adaptive trials on farmer’s field throughout Hazara Division.
• About 1540 tons of improved and high quality seed of cereals, oil seeds, pulses and vegetables have been produced and sold out to the farmers of Hazara Division.
• More than 1,23,045 quality fruit plants were produced and sold on Government approved rates.
• More than 21 thousands soil samples were analyzed for determining soil fertility status of Hazara Division.
• A total 840 soil samples were collected from Districts Kohistan, Mansehra and Torghar, and analyzed during 2015-16.
• Preparation of new organic matter product based on coal mines waste fortified with inorganic fertilizer and micro nutrients.
• Multiplication of pear through indigenous germplasm locally called batangi (Mamassii).
• Advance lines of peach and apricot are under observation.
• Introduction of some locally available botanical extracts against lepidopteran pests of vegetables.
• More than 8000 farmers, agri. Extt workers and representatives of govt/semi govt and non-govt organizations were trained in capacity building programs regarding agriculture.
• More than 200 students were provided with advisory services. 

Other information/brief history

Agriculture research activities were initiated at Agricultural Research Center on a leased land with a temporary head quarter at Mansehra. In 1980 a sub-station was established at Dhodial, which was upgraded to the level of Agricultural Research Station in 1990. Research and development activities were carried out on an area of 350 kanals. After the establishment of Hazara University, Mansehra in 2000, Agricultural Research Station Offices and Land was handed over to university and research activities were abandoned, and the research activities were resumed in 2002 on an area of only 130 kanals as Agricultural Research Station Baffa.

Publications

• Research publications are published in national and international journals.
• Annual Progress report is published on annual basis and copy will be made available on demand.
• Technical Bulletins are published in Urdu language for farmers and copies are available free of cost.