ICAR-Central Institute For Subtropical Horticulture

What ICAR-Central Institute For Subtropical Horticulture does

ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (ICAR-CISH) is an autonomous research institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, established in 1972 and headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It is the country's designated Centre of Excellence for Mango Research and the only institute simultaneously working on mango (the "king of fruits") and guava (the "poor man's apple"), also covering aonla, bael, jamun, litchi, banana, and other subtropical fruits. The institute maintains the world's largest mango germplasm collection (755+ accessions in field genebank), two research stations (Rehmankhera HQ and Malihabad Regional Station), a Regional Research Station and KVK at Malda, West Bengal, and a 15.5 ha 3/3-star NHB-rated nursery. Outputs include 15+ released commercial varieties (e.g., CISH-ARUNIKA, CISH-AMBIKA, CISH-DHAWAL, CISH-LALIT), 26+ technologies (CISH-METWASH, ICAR-BIOIMMUNIZER, ICAR-FUSICONT, CISH-MANGO WINESPECIAL, hydroponic nutrient solutions, IPM protocols), and value-added products under the Awadh sub-brand. The institute conducts breeding, production, protection, and post-harvest research; provides scientific consultancy; runs incubation (SHITIJ 2.0), training (Winter Schools, EDPs), and diploma programs (via IGNOU); and disseminates technology through KVKs, state departments, FPOs, and direct extension (VKSA, MG-MG). Revenue comes primarily from government budgetary allocation through ICAR, supplemented by nursery planting material sales (₹60–₹150 per plant), technology licensing and commercialization, consultancy, training fees, and auditorium rental (₹25,000/day). Customers are Indian small and marginal farmers, FPOs, agricultural universities, agri-entrepreneurs and MSMEs, KVKs, state horticulture departments, and export-oriented horticulture enterprises.

Name

ICAR-Central Institute For Subtropical Horticulture

Legal name

ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture

Website

https://cish.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ICAR-CISH is a Government of India research institute under ICAR that develops subtropical fruit varieties, production and protection technologies, and post-harvest solutions — primarily serving small and marginal farmers, FPOs, agri-entrepreneurs, and state agriculture departments across India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research and Horticulture Services

NAICS

Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Tropical & Subtropical Fruit Orchards (Avocados, Mangoes, Bananas/Plantains, Pineapples, Papayas) (AFAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Orchard Management & Field Operations (Pruning/Training, Thinning, Irrigation/Fertigation) (AFAGACAL), Fruit & Nut Planting Stock (Rootstocks, Nursery Trees, Vines) (AFABAFAF)

Keywords

• Subtropical horticulture research
• Mango variety development
• Horticulture technology licensing
• Agricultural extension services
• Planting material production

Headquarters

HQ city

Lucknow

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (ICAR/Government of India): As an autonomous institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, the primary funding comes from government budgetary allocations for research, infrastructure, and extension activities.
2. Nursery Sales of Planting Material: The institute operates a world-class scientific nursery at Rehmankhera (15.5 ha), producing and selling genetically pure, disease-free planting material of mango, guava, aonla, bael, litchi, jamun, lemon, banana, and other horticultural crops. Prices range from ₹60 to ₹150 per plant.
3. Technology Licensing and Commercialization: Technologies developed by the institute are commercialized through licensing agreements with private companies, entrepreneurs, and industries. Includes CISH-METWASH, ICAR-BIOIMMUNIZER, ICAR-FUSICONT, CISH Fruit Wash, and other processing technologies.
4. Consultancy Services: Scientists provide scientific and technical consultancy on crop improvement, production, protection, and post-harvest management of subtropical fruits to orchardists across the country. Consultancy records date back to 2001-02.
5. Training and Incubation Programs: Revenue generated through capacity building programs including the SHITIJ virtual incubation program (Food Processing & Waste-to-Wealth), Winter Schools, Entrepreneurship Development Programs (EDPs), and specialized training courses. Recognized by IGNOU as a study centre for diploma in value-added fruit and vegetable products.
6. Auditorium Rental: The institute's centrally air-conditioned auditorium with 270-person capacity is available for booking at ₹25,000 per day, with additional charges for catering services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ICAR-CISH is a government agricultural research institute that develops improved subtropical fruit varieties (mango, guava, aonla, bael, jamun, litchi), produces and sells disease-free planting material through its scientific nursery, commercializes proprietary horticultural technologies (bio-pesticides, bio-stimulants, post-harvest and value-addition technologies), and provides farmer training, consultancy, and incubation services for the subtropical horticulture sector. The institute maintains the world's largest mango germplasm collection (755+ accessions) as a foundational resource for breeding and research.

Product overview

ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) is a premier research institute under ICAR that operates as a portfolio of subtropical fruit research, development, and commercialization offerings. The institute's product portfolio spans mango varieties (including CISH-ARUNIKA, CISH-AMBIKA), guava varieties, and other subtropical fruits, complemented by a range of agricultural technologies for processing, pest management, and cultivation. Key technology products include CISH-METWASH (bio-stimulant), ICAR-BIOIMMUNIZER (tissue culture tolerance), ICAR-FUSICONT (bio-pesticide), CISH-MANGO WINESPECIAL (wine production), and various hydroponic nutrient solutions. The institute also provides services including a nursery for quality planting material, consultancy services, and a Custom Hiring Centre for Mango Pulp Processing. The varieties and technologies are available for commercialization through the institute.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CISH varieties (e.g., CISH-ARUNIKA, CISH-AMBIKA, CISH-DHAWAL, CISH-LALIT): Variety brands developed and released by the institute for mango, guava, and other subtropical fruits
• CISH Technologies (e.g., CISH-METWASH, CISH-VMAT, CISH-TRAP)
• Awadh Products (e.g., Awadh Guava Nutri-bite, Awadh Spice Blended Aonla Juice)

Products and services

• CISH-ARUNIKA Mango Variety A mango variety developed by ICAR-CISH for commercial cultivation, available for commercialization through the institute.
• CISH-AMBIKA Mango Variety Export-quality mango hybrid developed by ICAR-CISH, available for commercialization.
• CISH-METWASH Anti-senescence and antifungal bio-stimulant formulated using bioactive secondary metabolites from strain CSR M44 combined with biopolymers and adjuvants, for post-harvest fruit treatment.
• ICAR-BIOIMMUNIZER In-vitro bio-induction of host plant tolerance in tissue culture, a first-of-its-kind approach for producing wilt-tolerant, disease-free planting material.
• ICAR-FUSICONT Bio-pesticide for effective management of Panama Wilt (TR4) disease affecting Cavendish bananas.
• CISH-MANGO WINESPECIAL Technology enabling production of mango wine round the year using preserved mango pulp.
• CISH-DECOMPOSER Product containing plant growth promoting microorganisms for agricultural waste decomposition and soil health.
• CISH-OMAT Rain-proof and long-lasting fruit fly trap technology for management of fruit fly in mango and other fruit crops.
• Nursery Services and Planting Material Supply World-class 15.5-hectare scientific nursery at Rehmankhera with 3/3-star NHB rating, producing genetically pure and disease-free planting material of mango (Dashehari, Chausa, Langra, Amrapali, Mallika, CISH-Ambika, CISH-Arunika), guava (Sardar, A. Safeda, CISH-Lalit, CISH-Shweta, CISH-Dhawal, CISH-Lalima), aonla, bael, jamun, lemon, lime, pomegranate, litchi, and banana varieties. Plant prices range from ₹60 to ₹150 per plant.
• Custom Hiring Centre for Mango Pulp Processing Service facility providing mango pulp extraction services on a hiring basis to farmers, FPOs, entrepreneurs, and industries, addressing post-harvest processing infrastructure needs.
• Horticulture Consultancy Services Expert consultancy services in subtropical horticulture covering crop improvement, production, protection, and post-harvest management, provided by institute scientists to orchardists across India. Consultancy records date back to 2001-02.
• SHITIJ 2.0 Virtual Incubation Program Two-month virtual incubation program on Food Processing and Waste-to-Wealth for early-stage startups, students, innovators, MSMEs, and FPOs, with mentoring, technology validation, and business networking support from NutriHub (ICAR-AU) partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• World's largest mango germplasm: 755+ accessions in field genebank
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fruit Horizon 2026 - Multi-Stakeholder PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Fruit Horizon 2026 was organized as a collaborative, multi-stakeholder platform connecting farmers, scientists, extension workers, exporters, startups, and policymakers to develop a sustainable, technology-driven, and export-oriented fruit value chain in India. ICAR-CISH serves as the nodal organizing institute for this annual platform.
• National Horticultural Board (NHB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHB has recognized the ICAR-CISH nursery with a 3/3-star rating, establishing it as a quality-assured source of planting material. This recognition supports the institute's nursery in reaching farmers and organizations with certified horticultural planting stock.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAR-CISH operates as an autonomous institute under ICAR, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. ICAR provides funding, policy direction, and institutional framework, while the institute conducts mandated subtropical fruit research under ICAR's oversight.
• National Horticulture Mission (NHM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAR-CISH serves as the nodal centre under the National Horticulture Mission for mango orchard rejuvenation and meadow orcharding in guava, coordinating with state governments and NHM for technology dissemination on these priority interventions.
• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAR-CISH is recognized by IGNOU as a study centre offering a one-year diploma course on 'Value added products from fruits and vegetables' and a certificate course on 'Organic farming', enabling academic capacity building in horticultural value addition.
• Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAR-CISH originated as the Central Mango Research Station under the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru in 1972, before being upgraded to a full institute in 1984. Historical collaborative relationship in horticultural research.
• Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR IARI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAR IARI and ICAR-CISH collaborate within the ICAR system for research on subtropical and tropical horticulture. IARI published recruitment notifications for shared research positions including Research Associate-III and Senior Research Fellow roles potentially involving CISH.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAR-CISH works with KVKs, particularly KVK Malda, for technology dissemination and farmer training. KVKs serve as the frontline extension arm, translating institute research into field-level adoption across multiple districts.
• Various State Agricultural UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAR-CISH has MOUs with several universities for M.Sc. and Ph.D. training, enabling postgraduate students to conduct research at the institute's facilities and under the supervision of CISH scientists.
• NutriHub (ICAR-AU)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNutriHub (Business Incubator of ICAR-Agricultural University) is a partner in the SHITIJ 2.0 virtual incubation program, providing the application platform and startup ecosystem support for agri-food entrepreneurs.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ICAR-National Research Centre on Banana: ICAR-NRCB is a specialized ICAR research centre focused on banana cultivation, including development of ICAR-FUSICONT for Panama Wilt. It is directly comparable as ICAR-CISH developed and commercializes banana-related technologies like ICAR-FUSICONT, overlapping in mandate.
• ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research: ICAR-IIHR (Bengaluru) is a sister ICAR institute specializing in horticultural crop research including fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals. It is the most directly comparable peer as it shares the ICAR mandate, government funding structure, and R&D focus on horticultural varieties and technologies.
• ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute: ICAR-CPCRI is a sister ICAR institute focused on plantation crops including coconut, arecanut, and cocoa. It is comparable as another ICAR crop research institute delivering variety development, production technologies, and farmer extension services in tropical horticulture.
• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University: TNAU is a premier agricultural university in India with significant horticulture research programs, variety development, and extension services. It is comparable as an academic research institution developing fruit varieties, providing farmer training, and commercializing technologies through state-level networks.
• ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture: ICAR-CIAH (Bikaner) is a sister ICAR institute focused on arid horticulture research including date palm, citrus, and other fruits suited to dry regions. It is comparable as another autonomous ICAR research institute delivering crop improvement and production technologies to Indian farmers.

Regional players

• World Vegetable Center: The World Vegetable Center (formerly AVRDC) is an international agricultural research center focused on vegetable and horticultural crop improvement in Asia. It is comparable as an international R&D organization working on tropical/subtropical crop genetics, breeding, and value chain development.

Broad incumbents

• ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources: ICAR-NBPGR manages India's plant genetic resources including germplasm conservation and exchange. It is comparable as the national authority for germplasm management that complements ICAR-CISH's 755+ mango accession collection through broader crop genetic resource stewardship.
• Indian Agricultural Research Institute: ICAR-IARI is the flagship research institute of the ICAR system, covering broad agricultural research including horticulture, genetics, and plant sciences. It is comparable as the parent system's premier institute with historical collaborative ties to ICAR-CISH (IARI publishes shared recruitment positions for CISH research roles).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ICAR_CISH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUvmB_0pBbCsUenY8Ckb4Ng
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICARCISH
• Instagraminstagram.com/icar_cish

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ICAR-Central Institute For Subtropical Horticulture