Dr. Desh Raj Chaudhary

Head

EPABX: 427

Mobile: 9459834160, 8219452084

E-mail:  drc_dee@rediffmail.com, drcdee@hillagric.ac.in
 

Brief History and Introduction

Systematic improvement work of potential vegetable crops was initiated in Himachal Pradesh after the establishment of Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture in 1976 at Chambaghat, Solan under HPU, Shimla. The Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, CSKHPKV, Palampur was established during 1986 whereas; M.Sc. and Ph.D level degree programmes were started during 1987 and 1991, respectively. The state of Himachal Pradesh has progressed a lot in the field of vegetable cultivation since then. During the last 50 years, there is nearly 300 per cent increase in area (presently more than 85 thousand hectares) and production (presently more than 18 lakh tones), generating a revenue of more than ₹4000.0 crores which account for more than 3.3 per cent contribution to state GDP. The Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, CSKHPKV, Palampur is one of the major stakeholders contributing significantly in the field of vegetables improvement, production and seed production in the State.  Since its inception, more that 165 M.Sc. students and 57 Ph.D students have passed out and serving in reputed governmental and non-governmental organizations in the country and abroad. A total of 39 varieties of different vegetable and spice crops have been developed and released in the state for commercial cultivation.

Department is pioneer in the development of coloured varieties of broccoli, onion and radish for the first time in the state. Resistance breeding programme on bacterial wilt of solanaceaous vegetables and powdery mildew in garden pea has got recognition at the national level. Many lines are in testing phase of AVT-I/IET under AICRP on vegetable crops. Low chill requiring superior cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), self incompatible (SI) inbred lines in cabbage, CMS lines in cauliflower and broccoli; GMS lines in chilli; gynoecious lines in cucumber and many heterotic combinations in different vegetable crops have been developed and are being exploited for commercial hybrid development. The department has got recognition at national level on research in hydroponics and protected cultivation. Bacterial wilt resistant hybrid of tomato, parthenocarpic cucumber and cherry tomato has been released for cultivation under protected conditions in the state. The department has robotic grafting machine to use resistant root stocks on commercial otherwise susceptible varieties of cucumber, capsicum and tomato specifically for root knot nematode and bacterial wilt both under open and protected environments.

Many production technologies for commercial cultivation of vegetable crops both under open and protected environments; portable low poly-tunnel for raising off-season nursery of vegetables  and hi tech nursery raising have been standardized and included in Package of Practices for further adoption by the farming communities. Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, CSKHPKV, Palampur is catering the needs of the officers of Department of Agriculture and farmers for specialized training and rendering expert services in the field of vegetable science and floriculture vis-a-vis making available the quality planting material of improved varieties of different vegetable crops. A variety of publications (Research papers, Books, Book Chapters, Practical Manuals, Pamphlets, etc.) have been published and made available to the beneficiaries.