Nowsrosjee Wadia College Department of Economics

Rural Economics report on Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute Phaltan, Satara district- Maharashtra
(Date of visit: March 22, 2012)

Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bands
Thomas Jefferson

Submitted to:

Prof. Swati Adek- Nehe Faculty, Rural Economics Naim Keruwala (M.A Part I) Roll no: 225

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About NARI Foundation: Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute is a non-profit research and development institute. It was established in 1968 by Mr. B.V. Nimbkar who remained its first President till 1990. Since then Dr. Nandini Nimbkar is the Permanent President. It is situated in the rural town of Phaltan in Maharashtra state. Phaltan is about 100 km from Pune and 300 km south-east of Mumbai. The basic philosophy of the Institute is to solve the age old problems of rural India with the use of modern science and technology. Consequently, very innovative research and development programs have been undertaken. NARI has pioneered the concept of using sophisticated technologies like nanotechnology and biotechnology for rural development. Hence the Institute undertakes research and development in agriculture, renewable energy, animal husbandry and sustainable development

Agriculture
The major work is in producing better seed for the farmers and develops whole plant approach for sustainable development High yielding varieties and hybrids of cotton (Nimbkar-1, NH391 and NH-101), sunflower (NSFH-10), safflower (NARI-NH1, NARI-6, NARI-H-15 and Nira), and sweet sorghum (Madhura) have been developed. High quality seeds of safflower and sweet sorghum produced at NARIs own farms are available on commercially attractive terms. NARI is one of the research centres included in the All India Coordinated Research Project on Oilseeds for irrigated safflower under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR, New Delhi). Several varieties/hybrids are being developed and tested. A new moderately pest-resistant safflower hybrid NARI-H-15 was released in 2006. In 2007 a moderately wilt-resistant variety NARI-38 was identified for national release. NARI has been a pioneer in developing sweet sorghum as a multipurpose crop in India. Complete technology for producing ethanol, jaggery and syrup from sweet sorghum has therefore been developed. Thrust areas of Safflower program at NARI: o o o o o To develop high seed yielding and high oil containing varieties To develop a whole plant utilization approach To develop wilt resistant varieties and hybrids To identify and develop cytoplasmic-genetic male sterility system To promote safflower petals as natural food coloring agent and as herbal health tea o To use the safflower residue as fuel in NARI biomass gasifier
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Renewable Energy
Research and Development work has been mostly in solar and biomass energy and recently in sustainable transportation. NARI has pioneered the development of an extremely efficient multifuel lantern called Noorie for rural areas. The pressurized mantle lantern produces light output equivalent to that from a 100 W light bulb and can run on ethanol, diesel and kerosene. Presently the work is going on in running a modified lantern on a very safe mixture of 50 - 60% (w/w) ethanol-water. These lanterns, which also double up as cookstoves, have been christened lanstove and have been tested in local rural homes.

NARI has pioneered the development of electric and improved cycle rickshaws. Consequently three rickshaws have been developed: a) improved cycle rickshaws with five speed gears, back wheel braking and better suspension b) motor assisted cycle rickshaws (MAPRA) where a small PMDC motor powered by batteries helps the rickshaw puller to go over slopes and take load easily and c) completely battery driven rickshaw which can take two passengers at 30 Km/hr. In one battery charge this rickshaw can travel 80 Km distance. Efforts are on to market these rickshaws.

Animal Husbandry
The R&D has focused mostly on some aspects of sheep and goat production. Its initial project was the importation of a herd of 30 improved dairy type sheep of the fat-tailed Awassi breed from Israel. The objective was to improve the milk production and growth rates of the local Deccani Sheep through crossbreeding. xx --------------------- xx ------------------------------------ xx ------------------------------------ xx -------------

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