BARANI AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATION, JARMA, KOHAT

Official message from Head of Department

Kohat division consists of broad and narrow valleys bounded by various high and low mountains ranges. The elevation ranges from 500 meters to 1500 meters with small plains around Kohat City.

Rainfall in Kohat is erratic in nature, from 9.82 mm in November to 77.84 mm in August with yearly average of 412 mm. Sixty to Seventy percent of rains are received during monsoon. Average temperature varies from 48 C⁰ in June & july to 6.2 C⁰ December & January. Cold winds in winter drops the chill factor below 0C⁰.

Rainfed agriculture is practiced in Kohat division except in small areas where irrigation water from Tanda Dam, dug wells or spring is available. To improve the dry land agriculture, Barani Agricultural Research Station was established during the year 1993-94 on an area of 25 acres at Jarma, Kohat. The latitude and longitude of the station are 33.50 N and 71.50 E respectively. It is 10 km in the south of the city, on Indus highway, with an elevation of 580 m.

Barani Agricultural Research Station, Kohat is a multi-disciplined organization involved in research to improve agricultural productivity of barani area through evolving high yielding, drought resistant crop varieties and improved production technology appropriate for the agro-ecological environment of Kohat division. The overall mandate of the station is “Research for the farmers”.

Functions

Agricultural Research and Development

Objectives

• To develop high yielding, drought tolerant and pest/disease resistant varieties of field crops and horticulture crops.
• To develop technology packages for different agricultural commodities, suitable for rainfed areas.
• To develop suitable cropping pattern keeping in view the better utilization of soil, natural resources and weather conditions.
• To disseminate technology packages to the end users through adaptive research trials/electronic and print media.
• To provide advisory services in form of soil and water analysis to the farming community/allied agencies of the area.
• To produce basic seeds of different crops and then transfer to Extension/Progressive farmers.
• To develop linkages with allied agencies for sharing the experiences to enhance crop production and reduce poverty of farming community.

Vision / future plan

• Continuation of research activities considering weather conditions and requirements of rain-fed areas for: -
• Evaluation/Development of Wheat varieties.
• Selection and introduction of Pulses and Oilseed crops.
• Selection and introduction of high yielding and nutritious Gawara crop for the semi irrigated areas of Kohat Division.
• Research on the introduction of non-traditional crops e.g. Mushroom, Asparagus and Caralluma etc.
• Research on the use of organic and mineral fertilizers for profitable/economical crops yields.
• Research and Development on Guava to produce true to type plants for farming community.
• Raising of other fruit nurseries i.e. Pomegranates, citrus, fig, peaches and grapes for farming community.
• Training of farmers in soil sampling and nursery growing.

Development projects / ADP

Technological Improvement in Research and Strengthening of Agricultural Research Stations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 

Achievements

• Three wheat varieties (KT-2000, KT-2003 & KT-2010) have been released for rain fed areas.
• Millet variety (KT-98) has also been evolved for barani area.
• Candidate wheat lines (KT-325,335, and 338) have been selected as high yielding and is included in the final process of testing.
• Canola line (SPS1 and SPS2 in final stages)
• Research work on Caralluma (Chungan) has been started from 2012-13 under the project “Research and Development of Caralluma in KPK” has been completed in June 2015.
• Research work on Guava has been started from 2012-13 under the project entitled “Research and Development on Guava” has been completed in June 2015.
• Developed the cultivation technology of Caralluma (Chungan).
•  During last year (2015-16), 11.4 ton wheat seed of different varieties was produced.
• Published several research papers in National & International Journals.
• Delivered many radio talks on different crops in Karkeela programme of Radio Pakistan Peshawar.
• Conducted field days, conferences, seminars and trainings on various aspects of different crops.

Publications

• 75 Research publications are published in national and international journals in the last 10 years.
• Annual Progress reports published.
• 20 Technical Bulletins are published in Urdu language for farmers in the last 10 years.
• 101 field days have been conducted for farmers in the last 10 years.
• .67 trainings have been arranged for farmers in the last 10 years.
• 20 radio talks in Karkeela programme.

Additional services

• Advisory Services to visiting farmers, NGO’s,.
• Supervision of B.Sc. (Honors), M.Phil, and PhD students from various related universities in KPK.

 Public access to government

Most demanded information services (MDIS)

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