Reduce Cost of Cultivation to Maximize Yield: Experts Emphasize Farmer-Centric Solutions at State-Level PoP Workshop

Nauni (Himachal Pradesh), August 8, 2025: The eighth edition of the State-Level Workshop on Package of Practices (PoP) for Fruit, Flower, and Medicinal & Aromatic Plants commenced today at Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni. The two-day event is being jointly organized with the Department of Horticulture, Himachal Pradesh.

The workshop brings together scientists from the university, KVKs, research stations, and officials from the Horticulture Department to deliberate on updated recommendations for inclusion in the PoP. These region- and crop-specific guidelines span the entire crop cycle—from variety selection and land preparation to nutrient management, pest control, and post-harvest handling—aimed at maximizing yield, profitability, and sustainability.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel thanked the Horticulture Department for its continued support and stressed the importance of reducing the cost of cultivation to improve farmers’ net returns. He advocated for inclusive technologies—combining advanced methods with low-cost solutions for smallholders—and praised the state’s leadership in natural farming, noting its resilience even during heavy monsoon rains.

Director of Horticulture Vinay Singh highlighted horticulture as the backbone of the state’s economy, and emphasized the need to make the PoP climate-resilient, incorporating drought-tolerant, water-efficient, and disease-resistant varieties. He called for the integration of traditional wisdom with global innovations, promotion of early-maturing crops, and minimal use of chemical pesticides, encouraging a shift toward natural and sustainable practices. A well-designed, farmer-centric PoP, he noted, would significantly contribute to the Zero Hunger goal and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr. Inder Dev, Director of Extension Education, welcomed participants and shared that the scientific recommendations discussed would be compiled into farmer-friendly literature for practical adoption. Dr. Sanjeev Chauhan also highlighted the state's achievements in fruit cultivation.

First initiated in 1991, this is the eighth PoP workshop, and it will include six thematic sessions covering:

Monitoring of Pesticide Residues in Fruits and Vegetables

Food Science and Technology

Plant Protection

Subhash Palekar Natural Farming

Floriculture

Medicinal & Aromatic Plants

Approved recommendations from the workshop will be formally incorporated into the updated Package of Practices, providing a critical roadmap for sustainable horticultural development in Himachal Pradesh.