Concept Note on Center of Excellence(CoE)

A Center of Excellence (CoE) has been established by HPCDP (Phase II), JICA-ODA, Hamirpur at KVK Bara, with a primary objective of providing high-quality seedlings of various vegetable crops to the farming community including vegetable growers of HPCDP Phase I, Phase-II and other progressive farmers.The CoE aims to introduce new and advanced technologies in automated vegetable nursery production. This center will also cater to the needs of farmers residing in different districts of H.P under HPCDP JICA.

By bringing together experts, scientists and researchers, the CoE can lead advancements in plant breeding, propagation techniques and quality control measures. One of the primary objectives of the CoE is to ensure consistent and standardized production of planting material that meets the highest quality standards.Furthermore, the CoE can focus on developing disease-resistant and genetically superior varieties of crops through advanced techniques.

Key Points:-

• Size- 560 sq meter
• Focused Crops- Tomato, Cucumber, Brinjal, Chilly, Capsicum, Bottle gourd, Bitter gourd, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Broccoli, etc.

Status of Work:

As per the current status of the CoE, construction work is progressing well. Various components/items have been successfully installed, whereas the venture system is currently undergoing testing.

The project is on track to be completed by first week of June, with pilot testing scheduled to commence in second week of June month. Additionally, a demand for 1.5 lakh seedlings from all District Project Management Units (DPMUs) has been placed till now. This timeline reflects a well-coordinated effort and mark a critical step towards the project successful implementation.

Expected Outcomes:

The establishment of a Center of Excellence (CoE) unit at KVK Bara, District Hamirpur, H.P, represents a significant step towards enhancing agricultural practices in the region. Through capacity-building training programs, local farmers will gain valuable knowledge and skills, enabling them to harness the benefits of protected cultivation. By empowering unemployed youth, the CoE will not only create employment opportunities but also contributing to the overall economic development of the region.

The chairperson highlighted the Livelihood Support Activities as specified in MoD and discussed in detail the different sections of Livelihood Development Manual. It was highlighted that the field staff shall identify the sub projects for various on farm, off farm and service sector activities keeping in view the targets as specified in the MoD. Additionally, service sector activities was explained in detail and it was suggested to choose the activity accurately so that proper implementation and further monitoring can be done at each level.

The chairperson emphasized the importance of Livelihood Support Activities as outlined in the MoD and thoroughly discussed the various sections of the Livelihood Development Manual. It was emphasized that field staff should identify sub-projects for on-farm, off-farm and service sector activities, aligning with targets specified in the Livelihood Development Manual. Furthermore, detailed explanations were provided regarding service sector activities, with an emphasis on accurately selecting activities to ensure proper implementation and monitoring at each level.

Centre of Excellence, KVK, Bara, Hamirpur:

The CoE cater the needs of the farmers of the sub-projects of the HPCDP (Phase-II) JICA-ODA by providing seedlings of the vegetable crops produced using soil less media. During the year 2025-26, we have planned cultivation of 1.58 lakh seedlings each of different vegetable crops in five cycles, which will result in the total production of 7.9 lakh seedlings annually. Against the target till now 2.20 lakh seedings were cultivated in three cycles.

Nursery Sales Progress: