Cultivating the heights: Chitkul embraces modern horticulture

In a unique initiative set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayas, residents of Chitkul — the last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibetan border at an altitude of 11,500 feet — were recently trained in modern fruit cultivation practices. The awareness camp was organised by the Kinnaur Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan.

Held under the Government of India’s flagship Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan-2025, the camp witnessed enthusiastic participation from local farmers, youth, gram panchayat members and personnel from the nearby Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp. The event was conducted in close coordination with ITBP Deputy Commandant Jaswant.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Inder Dev, Director of Extension Education at the university, encouraged farmers and ITBP personnel — hailing from six different Indian states: Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Telangana — to adopt natural farming and self-reliance through local resources. He emphasised the potential for horticultural diversification and agro-tourism in this remote region.

Dr Pramod Sharma, Associate Director (Research) and Head of KVK, introduced nature-based solutions for initiating fruit orcharding and shared the success of Kinnaur KVK’s high-density apple orchards on seedling rootstocks, which have already shown promise in pilot locations like Sungra, Telangi and Nako.

Dr Arun Negi, Fruit Scientist, discussed sustainable cultivation techniques that not only improve income but also promote ecological balance. Officials from the departments of Horticulture and Animal Husbandry elaborated on various government schemes and technical interventions available for local farmers.

Gram Panchayat Up-Pradhan Rajesh urged villagers to adopt the scientific cultivation methods recommended by KVK experts to ensure long-term productivity and sustainability in one of India’s most remote villages. Devki Nandan, ASI of ITBP, highlighted the deep connection between the local agrarian community and the security forces, calling for the adoption of modern techniques to promote self-sufficiency in horticulture.

This landmark event represents a significant step towards building a greener, more self-reliant and resilient Himalayan farming ecosystem — fully aligned with the vision of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan.