Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute

NARI has developed various safflower varieties and hybrids for both high oil content and petals.[http://www.thebetterindia.com/30018/hybrid-varieties-of-safflower-revolutionize-agriculture-farmer-income-dry-states These Hybrid Varieties of Safflower Can Shake Up Agriculture and Farmer Income in the Dry States] NARI is one of the research centers included in the All India Coordinated Research Project on Oilseeds for irrigated safflower under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR, New Delhi).{{cite web |url=http://www.icar-iior.org.in/index.php/aicrp-centres/safflower |title=AICRP-SAFFLOWER |website=www.icar-iior.org.in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419115531/http://icar-iior.org.in/index.php/aicrp-centres/safflower |archive-date=2015-04-19}} The institute has developed high-yield varieties and hybrids of cotton, sunflower, safflower, and sweet sorghum (named Madhura),{{cite web|url=http://www.thebetterindia.com/92959/sweet-sorghum-syrup-health-food/|title=Syrup made from sweet sorghum could be next best health food|work=From the Better India|date=27 March 2017 }} as well as technology for producing ethanol, jaggery and syrup from sweet sorghum. NARI also carries out agrochemical testing for various companies and research laboratories in India to the standards of the Central Insecticides Board for the purposes of registration of new agro-chemicals.

Work in this field has been mostly in solar and biomass energy and recently in sustainable and environmental friendly transport systems, ethanol lighting/cooking and handicapped rickshaws.

• NARI has developed an efficient multifuel lantern called Noorie for rural areas.{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010722/nation.htm|title=Lantern research at NARI|work=From The Tribune}}
• A complete technology for producing ethanol from sweet sorghum has been developed at the institute. A number of high ethanol yielding varieties have also been produced.{{cite web|url=http://www.hedon.info/NariEthanolStove|title=Ethanol Stove research at NARI}}
• NARI has developed a stove running on 50% (w/w) and more ethanol/water concentration.[http://southasia.oneworld.net/todaysheadlines/indian-ngo-awarded-for-its-innovative-lantern-cum-stove]
• The gasification technology for thermal applications has been developed at NARI, including technology for the gasification of loose leafy biomass fuels like sugarcane leaves and bagasse, sweet sorghum stalks and bagasse.[http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/naribagassegas]
• Technology to increase the survival of tree seedlings in arid regions has been developed. Solar energy is used to collect water from the soil, which is then fed to the seedlings.[http://www.thebetterindia.com/51136/anil-rajvanshi-solar-energy-for-tree-seeds-maharashtra-drought This Experiment Using a Glass Cover and the Sun Can Generate Water Even in Drought Affected Areas!]
• NARI has developed technology for the solar detoxification of distillery waste using photocatalysts.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}
• In the late 1990s NARI pioneered the development of electric cycle rickshaws in India.[http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/sep252002/703.pdf Electric and improved cycle rickshaw as a sustainable transport system for India]
• NARI has developed a lantern cum stove running on ethanol for rural areas.{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/008200901161341.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207213908/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/008200901161341.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=7 February 2009|title=The LanStove (Lantern+Stove) developed at NARI|work=From The Hindu}}
• Recently NARI has extended the ethanol Lanstove concept to that running on kerosene.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Kerosene-lamp-which-cooks-food-without-polluting/articleshow/22250592.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906090415/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-03/science/41725656_1_kerosene-lpg-nimbkar-agricultural-research-institute|url-status=live|archive-date=2013-09-06|work=The Times of India|title=Kerosene lamp which cooks food without polluting}}
• A YouTube on NARI's Lnstove is available. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa45kJ0Kk3o]
• NARI has recently developed a very low-cost water purification system using solar energy.[http://www.thebetterindia.com/23049/an-old-saree-glass-tubes-and-sun-all-you-need-for-a-revolutionary-water-purifier An Old Saree, Glass Tubes and Sun – All you need for a revolutionary Water Purifier!]

The research and development has focused mostly on all aspects of sheep and goat production. Improved breeds of sheep have been developed which are more productive than the local breed. Also Boer goats are being used for cross breeding to improve meat production of the local goats.

• NARI has an A class weather station for its agriculture and renewable energy research where all the weather data including solar radiation has been collected since early 1980s.
• The institute has crop varietal evaluation as well as pesticides and growth promoters testing facilities.
• The Bajaj Center for Sustainable Development, scheduled to open in March 2010, is intended to allow professionals from different fields to work towards finding solutions for the problems faced, in particular, by rural India.

• Dr. Nandini Nimbkar the present President was honored in 1997 as one of the 47 most distinguished alumna of University of Florida[http://www.afn.org/~afn58678/alumnae.htm UF Honors 47 Alumnae during Coeducation 50th Anniversary Celebrations]
• Dr. Anil K. Rajvanshi was awarded the 2001 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Areas.
• NARI was given the FICCI Annual Award for Rural Development for 2001-02[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Ficci-award-for-Nimbkar-institute/articleshow/31203548.cms FICCI award for Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute]
• NARI's work on electric and improved cycle rickshaws won the Energy Globe Award in the AIR category in 2004.
• Dr. V. Singh, the safflower breeder of the Institute, was given the HARDF Award by Indian Society of Oilseeds Research in January 2003{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}
• The Institute was given the Vasantrao Naik Award for 2006 for contributions to agriculture{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}
• B. V. Nimbkar was awarded the Padma Shri in 2006.{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | accessdate=21 July 2015}}
• NARI was given the 2007 CSIR award for S&T for rural development for its sheep breeding work[http://www.csir.res.in/sites/default/files/rural2007.pdf CSIR Award for rural development 2007]
• NARI was awarded the Globe Award for its work in ethanol lantern cum stove (2009){{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200906041831.htm|title=Globe Award to NARI|work=From The Hindu | location=Chennai, India|date=4 June 2009}}
• Dr. Anil K. Rajvanshi the Director of NARI was given the 2014 Distinguished Alumnus Award of University of Florida.{{cite news|url=http://www.eng.ufl.edu/news/gator-engineering-honors-distinguished-alumnus-awardees-2/|title=Gator Engineering honors Distinguished Alumnus awardees}}
• B. V. Nimbkar was awarded the 2016 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural areas.
• Dr. Anil K. Rajvanshi was awarded the Padma Shri in 2022 [https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/padmaawardees2022.pdf Padma Awardees List for 2022, Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI]

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.nariphaltan.org/nari/index.php NARI website]

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Category:Agricultural research institutes in India

Category:Agriculture in Maharashtra

Category:Renewable energy organizations

Category:Science and technology in Maharashtra

Category:Animal husbandry in India

Category:Animal husbandry in Maharashtra