BAIF Development Research FoundationCentral Research Station, Urulikanchan, Dist- Pune 412 202

Ph.: +91-20-26926248 Email: vkkauthale@gmail.com Website: www.baif.org.in

The research project entitled “Standardization of

nursery and production technology of Cactus

(Opuntia ficus indica) for livelihood development

in the arid and semi-arid regions” is being

implemented at BAIF since June 2015 with

support from NABARD. Cactus also known as

prickly pear or cactus pear, has emerged as one of

the most suitable crop species for arid and semi-

arid climate. It is tolerant to drought, high

temperature and frost, adapted to hot arid

environment because of xerophytic characters,

multiplication through vegetative means, having

multipurpose uses as fruit, vegetable and

nutritive fodder, industrial importance for value

added products and good species to withstand

emerging conditions of climate Change.

General objective:

Specific objectives:

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Promote and develop the cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) a new emerging potential crop for improving the livelihood of the people in the arid and semi-arid zones of India

To standardize the nursery techniques and production technology of the cactus for fodder, fruit and vegetable production through agronomic trials

To evaluate the nutritional value of different accessions of cactus

To evaluate the performance of the cactus as fodder for small ruminant (goat) through feeding trial at farmers field

Institutional Networking

National Organisations

Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Phaltan, SataraCentral Agro-Forestry Research Institute (CAFRI), Jhansi National Institute for Abiotic Stress Management (NIASM), Baramati, Pune Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (CIAH), Bikaner Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Bhuj Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), HyderabadCentral Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal

International Organisations

International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA)Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)Cactus Net

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Future Prospects

4 Development of decentralize cactus nurseries

4 Introducing cactus as supplementary fodder crop in the farmer's field

4 Exploration of medicinal properties of cactus

Sponsored by: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Imp

ort

ant

Vis

its

Visit of Dr. Louhaichi Mounir, ICARDA Visit of Dr. Louhaichi Mounir, ICARDA

Visit of Dr. Uriel Safriel, Ecologist, Israel Visit of Dr. Uriel Safriel, Ecologist, Israel

Visit of Mr. R. Amalorpavnathan, Dy. MD, NABARDVisit of Mr. R. Amalorpavnathan, Dy. MD, NABARD

Cactus Research and Development

Thornless cactus (1280)Thornless cactus (1280)

Thornless cactus (1308)Thornless cactus (1308) Thornless cactus (1271)Thornless cactus (1271)

Thornless cactus (1270)Thornless cactus (1270)Various Cactus Types

Germplasm collection

Establishment of cactus arboretum

Evaluation of germplasm for growth, yield and nutritional parameters

Agronomy trials for development of production technology

Cactus feeding trials in small ruminants (goats)

Dissemination of cactus production technology through publications and demonstrations

Development of multiplication techniques through nursery trials

Adaptability and multiplication trials in arid regions in Rajasthan and Gujarat

Field demonstrations Research papers, popular articles

Propagation through cladode pieces Hardening of propagules Transplanting the propagules in the field

Cactus feeding trial in goats Chaffed cactus pieces Fruiting in cactus

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Collected 73 cactus accessions from various ICAR and private research institutes and explorations by personal visits

Developed cactus arboretum for evaluation of various accessions for adaptability, growth and yield performance

Field experimentations on standardization of nursery techniques and production technology in cactus and protocol developed for nursery techniques for mass multiplication

Nutritional analysis of various cactus accessions for proximate and trace minerals undertaken

Undertaken the cactus feeding trial in goats and positive results obtained in feeding trial under farm conditions

Identified most suitable Fodder Accessions

Multiplication and adaptability trial of various cactus accessions undertaken at Nanodara in Gujarat and Barmer in Rajsthan

The dragon fruit (var. Red and white), a species of cactus (Hylocereus undatus) for edible fruit, has been established

Developed network with National and International organisations working on cactus

Key Research HighlightsCactus Research and Development Program

Agronomy trial for development of production technology Cactus arboretum

Regeneration in old cactus

plants after loppingNursery techniques

standardization

Cactus plantation in

degraded wasteland