Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Scientific Advisor of Rakshamantri, Secretary Defence R&D and DG, DRDO will launch the Golden Jubilee Year celebrations of Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR, erstwhile Field Research Laboratory), on 13 July 2011 at Leh. On this occasion Dr. Saraswat will be inaugurating a Solar Power Plant, Thermally Controlled Greenhouse and Advanced Hatchery Unit at DIHAR, Leh-Ladakh.
DIHAR is one of its kind R&D establishment of DRDO, situated at an altitude of 3,500 m above the mean sea level (MSL). DIHAR was established in 1962 to fulfil the fresh food requirements of the defence forces deployed in ‘L’ sector. It is now world class leader in the area of cold arid agro-animal technologies. Since last 50 years the institute through its pioneerin¬g R&D efforts has brought about perceptible qualitative and quantitative changes in agriculture, animal husbandry and cold desert flora of Ladakh. The thrust of the institute has been to do basic directed research for productivity enhancement in vegetable cultivation, utilization of high altitude plant wealth for herbal products, energy efficient conservation of elite germplasm, post-harvest technology of perishable food items, sustainable utilization of biodegradable waste for energy production, upgradation of local unproductive animal population with elite germplasm etc. Consequent to DIHAR’s R&D efforts in development of agro-animal technologies, about 60% of vegetables, 25 % of milk and about 10% of meat requirements of army are being met locally. All these activities of the institute have brought close affiliation of the local people in the border area towards the Indian army.
DIHAR has kept pace with fresh food production for Services through hill agriculture by developing agro-technologies such as hybrid seeds, transgenic plants, greenhouses and trench technologies and motivated the local population to adopt these technologies. In fact, using these technologies, the local farmers are able to meet 60% of the Army requirement for fresh vegetables. A multi-vitamin herbal beverage “Leh Berry” rich in natural vitamins like A, B1, B2, C, E and K has been formulated using high altitude plant seabuckthorn which has become most popular beverage of Ladakh and has set in new agro-revolution in the complete region. The animal husbandry practices developed by DRDO have not only boosted the availability of meat and eggs to the troops but have also helped in upliftment of economy of the local population.
Alternative sources of meat like broiler, ducks, turkey, guinea fowls and quails have also been introduced in the region. Development of modern techniques of rearing animals and their adoption by the local farmers has resulted in increase in fresh milk, poultry products, meat and draught animals in the region. Artificial insemination technology for obtaining Zanskar ponies has been found to be useful to army and local farmers. In fact, these ponies were found to be better than GS mules and GS ponies for transportation in the difficult terrain. These efforts have not only boosted morale of the troops stationed in these remote areas but has also improved ecology of the region through DRDO-based green technology revolution.
The institute has immensely contributed towards greening of Ladakh region. Due to harsh environmental condition and lack of standard agro techniques, environmental conservation through human interface has been a major challenge. As a result of intervention of the institute since its establishment in 1962, there is qualitative change in vegetation in the region. Special emphasis has been laid on beautification of greening of army units. Propagation techniques for forest tree species such as poplar, willow, oleaster, elm and Persian lilac have been standardized and demonstrated to the troops and local populace through regular training. Ladakh is barren cold desert with merge vegetation. Agro-practices of growing tree species in the harsh condition have been standardized. From 2006-2009 more than 128148 numbers of cuttings have been distributed for afforestation in the region by the institute. As a result of plantation, total carbon sequestration of Nubra valley is approximately 75,000 tons in the form of living biomass through Plant Organic Carbon (POC).
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