Govt to provide policy support, training to promote stone fruit cultivation: Negi

Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi said the government was committed to providing policy support, training, research and marketing infrastructure to promote stone fruit cultivation in the state. Negi was said this while addressing the gathering at the national conclave on stone fruit cultivation at Thanedhar, in Kotgarh, today. The conclave was organised by Stone Fruits Association of Himachal Pradesh in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture and University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, to help the apple-dominated economy diversify into stone fruits in the temperate zones.

The conclave was attended by around 600 farmers, including a few from outside the state. Apart from experts from academics, research and industry, two international delegates from Spain and New Zealand also attended the conclave. In wide-ranging presentations made during the conclave, experts dwelt on modern stone fruit cultivation techniques, selection of climate-resilient varieties, prevention of fruit diseases, post-harvest management, processing, value addition and marketing strategies.

While speaking on the occasion, Negi said the biggest challenge in producing high quality fruit was the availability of high-quality planting material. “The state government has recently signed an MoU with an Italian company, under which 50,000 high-density plants will be produced to overcome the shortage of quality plants,” he said.

“Countries like New Zealand are producing the most high-quality produce on limited land. In Himachal, we must work towards improving both quality and quantity,” he said.

Local MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore said that such conferences would be extremely useful in the overall development of the horticulture sector.

On this occasion, exhibition stalls were set up by the Horticulture Department and various companies, in which information about various advanced varieties of stone fruits and technological innovations were displayed. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice Chancellor, UHF, Nauni, said the conclave had set the ball rolling for providing thrust to the cultivation of stone fruits. “The Nauni university will hold the next conclave on stone fruits,” he said.