भा.कृ.अनु.प.- भारतीय चरागाह एवं चारा अनुसंधान संस्थान, झाँसी

Thrust area

• Collection, evaluation, introduction, and documentation of temperate and sub-temperate forage germplasm.
• Evaluation of high-yielding and nutritious forage crop varieties.
• Developing technologies for improving grassland agro-resource management to sustain livelihood and the Himalayan environment.

Working groups

1. Exploration, Collection, Evaluation, Characterization, and Conservation of Himalayan Forage Crop Germplasm
2. Genetic Improvement of Temperate and Sub-temperate Forage Crops
3. Agronomical trait(s) improvement in forages using plant-associated microbes from the North-Western Himalaya
4. Seed production of Himalayan forage crops
5. Genomics-assisted breeding for different forage crops
6. CRP on Agro-biodiversity Component-I (White Clover)
7. Human Resource Development and outreach activities regarding fodder and Himalayan Grasslands

Brief Introduction

The ICAR- Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Centre for Indian Himalayan Grassland, Bharmat, Palampur is carrying out the basic scientific research on grassland and fodder improvement since its establishment in 1996 under the aegis of ICAR- Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi. The station is located in the lap of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges at village Bharmat, near Dr. G.C. Negi College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Palampur, CSKHPKV, Palampur of Kangra District in Himachal Pradesh. It is well connected by road, railway and air. The centre is primarily working on the grassland restoration and management besides collection, conservation, maintenance and evaluation of native forage crops; and improvement in productivity and quality of fodder crops through conventional and biological tools for sustainable livestock production in the region.The station has in possession about 12 acres of land, well maintained forage garden. The station also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT)-Palampur and Career Point University, Hamirpur to carry out collaborative research activities. The station is devoted to address the issue related to grassland and fodder productivity and quality of the forages in a sustainable way with a mission to fulfill the quality fodder need throughout the year in the North-Western Himalayan region through basic and modern scientific research. The centre is actively working on Human Resource Development and outreach activities regarding fodder and the Himalayan Grasslands.

Historical Prospectives

1. 1972- Regional Research Station, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute established at Manasbal, Jammu & Kashmir.
2. 1988- Under MoU between SKUAST-Kashmir and ICAR, research activities of the station were shifted from Manasbal to K D Farm on an area of 20 acres provided by the university.
3. 9th July, 1988- The foundation stone of the regional centre of IGFRI at KD Farm was laid by Dr. N.S. Randhawa, Secretary, DARE & Director General, ICAR
4. 1996- IGFRI Regional Centre temporarily shifted to Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, on account of unfavourable conditions in the valley of Kashmir.
5. 2024- The centre has been recognised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and renamed as the ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI)-Centre for Indian Himalayan Grasslands.

Major Achievements

1. Rejuvenation of weed infested degraded Pasturelands:
   About 7.0 acre area under degraded pastureland infested with weeds ( of 2.0 acres of land in Nagan village and 4.0 acre of land at Kandral village of Kangra district) that had become unproductive due to the overgrowth of weeds, especially Neela Phoolnu (Ageratum) and Lantana, respectively.
   This degraded pastureland was rejuvenated by planting high-quality, high-yield perennial Brachiaria grass in Nagan village and a combination of perennial grasses (Setaria, Brachiaria, Napier and Paspalum) at Kandral Village . This grass not only suppresses the growth of weeds but also provides nutritious fodder for livestock. Additionally, it prevent soil erosion.
   Through this initiative by the Centre for Indian Himalayan Grasslands, ICAR-IGFRI, Palampur, the previously weed-infested and unproductive 2.0 acres land in Nagan village and 4.0 acre land at Kandral have been successfully rejuvenated. As a result, fodder productivity has increased by 4 to 5 times.
   Recently, Grassland rejuvenation through a participatory approach has been started at organized Rajain Panchayat of District Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. The rooted slips of different perennial grasses, including Setaria anceps, Paspalum conjugatam, Brachiaria decumbens etc. were planted in 1.0 ha of weed infested degraded grassland for rejuvenation. Also the centre took rejuvenation activity on 1.2 ha land in the Pleur Panchayat of Chamba, through plantation of temperate and subtemperate grasses and legumes.
   
2. Conservation and management of genetic resources
   176 accessions of different forage crops have been introduced from RRS Srinagar, which include Orchard grass (44), Tall fescue (35), Sainfoin (18), Red clover (28), Brome grass (18), Rye grass (15), Red fescue (5), Timothy (6), Phalaris (6) and Bird’s foot trefoil (1).
   Maintaining 251 accessions of white clover (Trifolium repens L) and 53 collections of range grasses and other forage crops, including fodder tree species.
   A Golden Jubilee Forage Garden has been established at the station for collection, evaluation and conservation of different grasses and fodder crops particularly from the Himalayan region. Forage Graden has collection of diverse perennial and annual grasses, legumes, cereals, trees and other cultivated fodder crops. Farmers, researchers and official visit the forage garden throughout year.
   
3. Evaluation of various fodder crops for their productivity, nutritional, and abiotic & biotic stress tolerance
   Various fodder crops (white clover, oats, Brachiaria, Tall fescue, Finger millet) have been evaluated for their productivity, nutritional, and abiotic & biotic stress tolerance.
4. Production and distribution of good quality fodder seed production and distribution
   Station is dedicated to produce good quality fodder seed in sufficient quality and ensure its distribution among the end users. Vegetative propagules (root slips etc.) of Napier, Brachiaria, Setaria and Paspalum etc. made available to the end user on demand.
5. Outreach programme for farmers
   The centre conducts out reach programmes under SCSP and TSP for the improvement of the socioeconomic status of farmers through technology demonstration, input distribution and knowledge dissemination.

Salient achievements

1. Genetic improvement of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) for quality, persistence and higher herbage production in the Himalayan pastures.
2. Evaluation of white clover and perennial grasses germplasm: Accessions of white clover and perennial grasses such as Rye grass, Fescue, guinea Brachiaria were planted and established for their evaluation under mid Himalayan region.
3. Integrated Pest Management in different forage production systems in various regions of India
4. National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)-Strategic Research: Impact assessment of climate change on fodder production, grazing and rangeland & ecosystem and mitigation strategies
5. Development of value added feed products for different categories of livestock and their storage
6. • Performance of Multicut Oat Cultivars Under Different Cutting Managements in Irrigated Sub Tropics of Jammu

Ongoing Research Projects

Externally Funded Projects