ICAR-NBPGR RS, Srinagar

NBPGR Regional Station Srinagar was established in 1988 to carry out systematic exploration and germplasm collection in Jammu and Kashmir representing North-Western Sub-Himalayan and high altitude Cold Arid region. The state is divided into 22 administrative districts inhabited by several communities dwelling in remote and inaccessible areas. Phytogeographical and socio-cultural diversity has led to the evolution of diverse traditional farming systems housing a large number of traditional varieties of agri-horticultural crops, wild and weedy relatives. The station has a 10 acre experimental farm for characterization, evaluation and maintenance of germplasm and is located at karewa Damodher 14 kms from Srinagar city near KD Farm (SKUAST-K) and CITH.

Objectives (Mandate)

• Systematic collection of landrace diversity and wild relatives of all crops of the region.
• Characterization, evaluation and maintenance of temperate fruit plant diversity and their wild relatives.
• Multiplication, regeneration and supply of germplasm to researchers in the country.

Mandated crops

• Wheat,barley,mustard,apple,walnut,almond
• Other crops: Rice,maize,pulses,vegetables,fruits,spices and ornamentals

Major thrust areas

• Exploration and germplasm collection of trait specific, unique and endemic crop diversity of the region.

• Exploration and Germplasm Collection:During last five years eight exploration and germplasm collection programmes were executed in collaboration with SKUAST,CITH,NBPGR New Delhi,DRR Hyderabad and 1043 accessions of different agri-horticultural crops including landraces and wild relatives were collected from all three regions of J&K viz.,Kashmir,Ladakh and Jammu.The germplasm collected include seabuckthorn(148), apricot(101), chillies(175), pumpkin(43),bottle gourd(37), brinjal(55), cucumber(14), karela(3), apple(25), pear(12), walnuts(73), almonds(123), forage crops(86), pseudocereals and minor millets(70),garlic(12),  rice(32),linseed(12) and wild safflower(22).
• Germplasm Characterization and Evaluation:A total of 2490 accessions comprising of wheat (1339) barley (664) and mustard (487) were characterized and evaluated for their morphological characters under rainfed conditions of Himalayas using minimal descriptors of agricultural crops.
• Supply of Germplasm:Germplasm collected has been supplied to NBPGR HQ for MTS, LTS, Cryopreservation and also to different indenters for research purpose.23 accessions of Dioscorea deltoidea were supplied to Jamia Hamdard New Delhi and CCS HAU Hisar.