Workshop on cropping activities on sub-tropical fruits organised

The College of Horticulture and Forestry (COH&F), Neri in Hamirpur district, a constituent college of Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni organized a one-day workshop under the aegis of Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Department for the stakeholders of the state under the Himachal Pradesh Sub-tropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition Project (HP SHIVA) financed by the Asian Bank.

Professor Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice-Chancellor of the University, was the Chief Guest of the workshop. In his address, Professor Chandel said in the age of technology it is important that we adopt novel technology and make judicious use of it in agricultural activities. He also urged everyone to encourage youngsters to adopt agriculture as a profession. He said that we have to not only increase our income but also get quality production from the same piece of land using high-density plantations.
Professor Chandel said that along with promoting farming, the link from the producer to the consumer should also be recognised so that the farmer can get a good price for his produce. He congratulated the Horticulture Department for successfully implementing the project on the ground. He also congratulated Dr. Somdev Sharma, Dean COH&F for providing scientific support to the project. Professor Chandel advised the Horticulture Department and University to jointly work in nursery production.

Dr. Devendra Thakur, Director HP SHIVA said that the project has been structured in seven districts of the state, in which plantations will be set up in 28 blocks on 28,000 hectares of land using scientific methods. Dr. Somdev Sharma, Dean and Team Leader said that the fruits grown in the sub-tropical region in the market generally get a lesser price in the market, for which this project is working as a boon. National level subject matter experts, progressive farmers of the state, heads of departments of Neri College, and various departments and officers of the Horticulture Department were present on the occasion.

Three books - Mango cultivation in Himachal Pradesh, Pomegranate cultivation in Himachal and Subtropical Fruit Nursery - Establishment, Propagation and Management written by the scientists of the university were also released on the occasion. These books can be used by farmers in the sub-tropical areas to strengthen their economy. Avocado plants were also distributed by the Chief Guest on behalf of the COH&F to the progressive farmers on this occasion.