Director Research

Dr. S.K. Verma

Director Research

G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology

Pantnagar – 263145, Uttarakhand, India

Contacts

+91-9411324848 (O)

directorresearch@gbpuat.ac.in

About Department

The Genesis

The Directorate of Research was established with the inception of the University in the year 1960

Vision

To be globally recognized centre of excellence in multidisciplinary agricultural research, driving sustainable innovations that transform Himalayan and India agriculture, enhance farmer’s prosperity, strengthen food, nutrition and environmental security and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

Mission

• Promote need based, multidisciplinary research in agriculture, veterinary sciences, fisheries, engineering, basic sciences and community science to address emerging challenges in food, nutrition, climate resilience and sustainable development.
• Develop and deliver innovative, climate smart and farmer centric technologies that enhance productivity, profitability, resource use efficiency and livelihood security with special emphasis on the farming communities of Uttarakhand and India.
• Strengthen research excellence through interdisciplinary collaboration, capacity building, innovation, technology commercialization and national and international partnerships, fostering impactful scientific discoveries and evidence based solutions.
• Facilitate effective translation of research into practice by promoting technology validation, dissemination and adoption through strong linkages with extension systems, policymakers, industry and farming communities, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

Mandate

Research Organization and Administration

The research organization of the University is governed by a ‘Research Advisory Committee’ (RAC). The Vice-Chancellor is the Chairman and Director, Research is the Member Secretary of the committee. The Deans of different colleges, Directors of various directorates in the University, Programme Coordinators and Comptroller are the members. Besides, Directors of Directorate of Agriculture, Horticulture and Fisheries of Government of Uttarakhand as well as Heads of State departments like soil conservation, sericulture, animal husbandry, forestry, marketing, medicinal and aromatic plants are also the members. Some progressive farmers also represent the RAC as member. The RAC as facilitators identify and orient research to address problems of farming community.

The Directorate of Research has a set-up which distinctly looks after technical, financial and administrative management as well as the management of on-campus and off-campus research centres. The Director Research is the head of the set-up and is assisted by Joint Directors from disciplines of Agriculture, Veterinary and Engineering as well as by Joint Director Research for Administration and Monitoring. The on- and off- campus research stations have Joint Directors/ Associate Directors/ Officer-in-charges for planning and execution of mandate of these centres and a Joint Director at Head quarters monitors these activities. The Comptroller in association with a Deputy Comptroller and other accounts officials takes care of financial management of the directorate.

Joint Directors

Research Centres

On Campus Research Centres

Off Campus Research Centres

Research Highlights

Research Projects in Operation

At present 321 (July 2026) research projects with financial outlay of Rs 85.13 crores are in operation at different colleges and on- and off- research centres of the University funded by ICAR, Central and State Government, International Agencies.

• Ongoing Research Projects 2026PDF

Salient Research Achievements

The University has made significant achievements on agricultural research front and has developed a number of technologies for adoption by farmers and other end users. Some of the achievements are given below:

Total varieties released so far: 363; varieties released after creation of Uttarakhand: 229; landmark varieties: 14. University has so far released 363 improved varieties of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fodder crops, sugarcane, green manure crops, vegetables crops of Kharif and Rabi seasons, fruits crops and plants species, agroforestry and flowering plants. The crop varieties have great potential and contributed significantly to enhance the productivity in the state and the country. The University has focused research efforts to meet specific requirements of Uttarakhand and 229 varieties of different crops have been released for cultivation in different parts of the state under various cropping systems.

Crop Varieties

• List of Released Varieties 2026PDF

Additional documents

• Academia–Industry Meet (21.02.2024)PDF

Major Research Achievements

1. University has been awarded as best agriculture university with the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award thrice — in 1997, 2005 and 2019 — by ICAR, New Delhi.
2. Awarded Best Centre for exemplary research achievements: Pulses – 2024 and 2026; Rice – 2025; Biocontrol – 2025; Maize – 2020; Soybean – 2017; Forage – 2023; Weed Management – 2008, 2014 and 2022.
3. Identification of zinc deficiency as the cause of Khaira disease in rice for the first time in the world.
4. Development of Pant Zero Till Ferti Seed Drill, which reduces sowing time by 10–15 days.
5. Development of the first interspecific maize hybrid, Pant Forage Maize Hybrid 1.
6. Rejuvenation of Nainital Lake through bio-manipulation for fisheries revival and production.
7. Commercial production of the bioagent Trichoderma viride.
8. Development of a Zero Till seed drill for sowing of wheat crop.
9. Development of an early Bovine Pregnancy Diagnosis kit.
10. A novel Salmonella vaccine has been developed and patented.
11. A simple strip test for the detection of urea in milk has been developed.
12. The Pant hill yoke suitable for hill bullocks has been developed and fabricated.
13. ‘Pant Subsoiler-cum-Vermicompost and Soil Amendments Applicator’ is designed and developed.
14. Mass production of fingerlings of commercial popular fishes.
15. Development of small equipments suitable for hill farmers like Nasuda, Danala, Damala, Paddy Thresher, Horticultural hand tools etc.
16. First indigenous poultry breed of Uttarakhand, “Uttara”, is registered.
17. Dual purpose (meat and milk) breeds of goat “Pantja”, “Udaipuri” and “Chogarkha” are registered.
18. The extraction of natural dyes mordanting, dyeing, printing on various kinds of fabrics using plant source like Berbis vulgaris, Jatropha integerimma, Juglan regia, Hamelia patens, Butea monosperma etc have been standardized. Tea leaves, Amla, Bahera, lemon etc have been used as moderant (eco-friendly). Techniques have been developed for dyeing and printing on garments like cotton, silk and wool.
19. Ovum pick technology for obtaining progenies from infertile animals of high pedigree for genetic improvement has been perfected.
20. Development of a potent cell culture vaccine against fowl pox virus in poultry.
21. Super-ovulation was induced in buffalo and cow; seven healthy calves were produced through embryo transfer from one donor cow in one year.
22. The technique of in-vitro oocyte maturation (IVM), sperm capacitation, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo culture and cryopreservation of oocytes and embryo has been standardized; IVM and IVF have been successfully achieved with frozen-thawed buffalo oocytes.

Agriculture Implements / Farm Machinery Developed

• Development of Pant Fertilizer Band Placement Cum Earthing Up Machine.
• Development of Pant Axial Flow Multi-Crop Thresher for Hilly Region.
• Pant Subsoiler-cum-Vermicompost and Soil Amendments Applicator was developed.
• Finger millet dehuller-cum-pearler was developed.
• The refined technology of crop regulation in guava for obtaining higher winter season crop with superior fruit quality under high density plantation of guava — complete removal of non-fruited shoots followed by one leaf-pair shoot pruning (retaining one leaf pair at the base of the shoot) of current season’s growth should be done during the first week of May. This technology entitled “A process for crop regulation in guava under high density plantation” has been filed to the Indian Patent Office, New Delhi (Patent application No. 201611025345 dated 25.07.2016).
• A low-cost motorized paddy thresher was introduced to minimize the drudgery and musculoskeletal disorders involved in paddy threshing. Results show that the overall rating of discomfort was reduced to 29.72 percent by performing the threshing with the improved method.
• Jackfruit seed flour was prepared and incorporated in dumplings, substituting rice flour with jackfruit seed flour. Jackfruit seed flour is rich in protein, energy and minerals; its protein digestibility is high and it also has a good amount of dietary fibre. By incorporating jackfruit seed flour, the nutritive value of the dumplings also increased.

Patents

A total of 49 patents have been granted to the University. The complete list is available below.

• List of Patents Granted (49)PDF

Proformas

• Proforma for Varietal IdentificationPDF
• Proforma for Varietal Release & NotificationPDF