From Director′s Desk
It is my pleasure to join and serve ICAR-National Research Centre on Pomegranate (ICAR-NRCP), Solapur on 28th April, 2021. The ICAR-NRCP completed 20 years of journey on September 25, 2025. The Centre has made several remarkable accomplishments during this short span and we feel proud to be a part of growing pomegranate sector in India. Constant increase in pomegranate area, production and productivity has been observed in India since last decade. In India it is cultivated over 2.23 lakh ha with an annual production of 28.42 lakh tonnes and productivity of about 12.72 MT ha-1. Cultivation of pomegranate has added new dimension in raising the income of farmers. With rapid increase in pomegranate cultivation in India in both traditional and non-traditional areas more and more challenges are being faced by the growers with respect to disease, pests, flower regulation, nutritional imbalances and overall management. The centre, since its inception in 2005 has made noteworthy research to develop farmers’ friendly technologies viz., production of quality planting material, development of new varieties, plantation techniques in marginal lands, canopy management, soil, irrigation & nutrition management, integrated disease and pest management schedules, maturity indices, developed adhoc list of chemicals for the export by defining the PHI and MRL etc. which enlightened the way for sustainable and quality production. The centre also developed new varieties and focused on different post-harvest technologies and developed many value added products which help in entrepreneurship developments. The institute is actively disseminating and transferring the technologies through on-site and in-house trainings to stakeholders. The Centre has introduced pomegranate cultivation in different states through Tribal Sub Plan, (TSP), Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG) and Scheduled Cast Sub Plan (SCSP) by demonstrations, inputs, Soil Health Cards and technical guidance. The promising pomegranate scenario and the positive feedback of review committees and farmers give us confidence to move forward with higher commitment. It is point of concern, that though India is the largest producer of pomegranate, yet its export share in world trade of pomegranate is just 2.5% of the total production. Demand for big size fruit and very few chemicals with label claims appear to be major concerns for export from India. The Centre is making efforts to overcome these constraints, so as to increase export that will in turn improve market rates for the benefit of farmers. The Centre has a challenging task ahead to improve export through breeding large size variety and pesticide residue free production; work on these aspects is in progress. I am sure ICAR-NRCP will continue to move forward with confidence to achieve new milestones and to fulfill the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minster of Doubling farmers’ income. It is a matter of great privilege to serve the institute that is working for the benefit of pomegranate growers all over India. With the constant guidance, encouragement and support from the ICAR headquarters, vision of the previous Directors who served this Centre, concerted efforts of all the past and present scientists, support of the dedicated technical and administrative staff, the visibility of the ICAR- NRCP has increased many folds at national and international levels. I am indebted to one and all for their unflinching support and place on record my sincere thanks to them with the hope for their constant co-operation in future for the betterment of this young dynamic Centre. Last but not the least, I wish to thank pomegranate growers from all over India, whose constant queries have helped us understand the crop better and provide practical solutions to major problems in pomegranate. Dr. R. A. Marathe Director, ICAR-NRCP
