Agricultural Research Station,

Anand Agricultural University, Arnej- 382 230

Taluka Dholka, District Ahmedabad

Email: arsarnej@aau.in

The Agricultural Research Station was started in the year 1944 as a testing center for wheat. Later on, chickpea testing programme was added in the year 1977 with some additional staff. In earlier days, objective was to evolve drought tolerant crop varieties and dry farming practices suitable for this region. In December 1979, National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) came into existence with the help and aid provided by International Development Association (IDA) in affiliation with International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) with sole objective to improve crop productivity of salt affected soil under erratic pattern of rainfall and harsh climatic conditions. The research work at this NARP center is covered under various disciplines such as, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agronomy, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agricultural Meteorology, Agricultural Entomology, Plant Pathology, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Engineering and Plant Physiology. Since the post of Plant Physiology has been withdrawn, research work on Plant Physiology is not carried out at present. The sole objective was to find out solution to various crop productions related constraints of Bhal and Coastal Agro-climatic Zone through multidisciplinary location specific research. This station was head quarter of Bhal and Coastal Agro-climatic Zone VIII of Gujarat state with two sub-centers viz; Agricultural Research Station, Dhandhuka and Dry Farming Research Station, Vallabhipur. The research work done in this agro-climatic zone is mainly on supporting and testing centers on need based problems, development of crop genotypes and release of crop varieties to increase the production and productivity of the crops for betterment of the farming community. This station used to enjoy the status of Regional Research Station. To co-ordinate and guide in all kinds of multidisciplinary research activities of the entire zone, one post of Associate Director of Research was functional from this station. With the dissolution of Gujarat Agricultural University (GAU) with simultaneous inception of four Agricultural Universities, Arnej center has been placed under the newly formed Anand Agricultural University, Anand and the post of Associate Director of Research has been abolished. The center is situated 75 km away from Ahmedabad city and 13 km away from Bagodara village (Ahmedabad- Rajkot National Highway 8) on Bagodara-Tarapur State highway. The research station can be reached by railway from Arnej railway station (1.5 km) as well as via bus upto Arnej. 

Mandates

• Develop new genotypes of major rainfed crops suitable to drought, salinity and water logged conditions
• Develop suitable Agro-technology for major and new crops suitable for Bhal area
• Develop technology for run-off rain water harvesting and recycling for agricultural use
• Study of crop pests and diseases, their occurrence and control measures
• Find out the ways for alternative land use i.e. Arid Horticulture/ Agro-forestry
• Agromet Advisory services to farmers of Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Botad districts

Salient achievements

• Two varieties each of durum wheat and chickpea are released Click here
• Nine technologies are developed Click here
• 108 germplasms of durum wheat are maintained at this center
• Eight long term Project/ Scheme and one adhoc Project/ Scheme are in operation Click here
• Three research papers published in international journal and nine in national journal Click here

RTI Disclosure