A research unit for the improvement of vegetable crops in Uttar Pradesh was established by State Government at Alambagh, Lucknow during 1951. After a short span of three years this research unit was shifted from Lucknow to Kalyanpur, Kanpur in 1954 under the supervision and administrative control of Late Dr. Y. R. Mehta, Horticulturist, U.P. Govt.. Subsequently in the year 1962, the vegetable research scheme was strengthened with the creation of a post of Economic Botanist (Vegetables). Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Dehi granted permission to start research work at CSAUA&T, Kalyanpur as a sub – centre under AICRP Vegetables w.e.f. 1971-72. In the beginning most of the vegetable crops like Brinjal, Pea, Tomato, Chilli, Okra, Cauliflower, French bean, Radish, Cucurbits, Onion and Garlic were the part of the programmes. Under AICRP (Vegetable crops), major emphasis was given on varietal improvement, standardization of improved production technologies and vegetable seed production programme. Government of India has also sanctioned a project on “Breeder Seed Production of Vegetable crops” Recognizing the importance role of this centre in vegetable seed production programme, ICAR sanctioned a project on vegetable breeder seed production to this university as a new centre during 2010-11under AICRP- NSP which later on merged with main project i.e. AICRP (V.C.). In the year 2008-09 a major breakthrough was witnessed as ICAR granted main centre status to Kalyanpur for doing research on onion and garlic under All India Network Research Project on Onion & Garlic and potato under AICRP on potato. Till today more than 55 high yielding varieties of different vegetable crops have been developed and released for general cultivation by State/Central Variety Release Committee. Besides this, more than seventy two different recommendations have been made on improved vegetable production and plant protection technologies for the benefit of farmers’ of the State. To popularize the cultivation of seed spices in the state as well as to achieve the aim of self-reliance in spices production at national level, quality seed production of high yielding varieties and the development programmes like technology transfer through FLDs, seminar/ workshops and farmers training are also being undertaken by the department with the financial assistance from Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, Calicut, Kerala.
This vegetables research section was upgraded as department of Vegetable Science during 2002-03 and started giving degree in M.Sc. and Ph.D. (Agriculture) in Vegetable Science and this continued till 2011-12. After words from academic session 2016-17, admission of M.Sc. and Ph.D. students was again initiated and now the degree is being awarded as M.Sc. (Horticulture) Vegetable Science and Ph.D. (Horticulture) Vegetable Science under the college of Horticulture. Both farm and instructional facilities are available for undertaking the quality research and imparting quality education to the postgraduate students. This department has distinction to be identified as “Centre of Excellence on Vegetables” in the year 2018 by Department of Agricultural Education and Research, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh.
In order to promote the use of green energy i.e. energy which does not pollute the environment and is renewable in nature, department of vegetable science has taken the lead in the university. During March 2021 online solar panel of 50 KW capacity has been installed on the roof of department’s building which has become now functional and started supplying solar energy. Besides this all the fields of vegetable research farm has been connected with underground irrigation pipeline in order to enhance the water use efficiency and minimize the water losses.
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