Panel for hosting national conference next month

The government has constituted a five-member committee for hosting the first ever national conference on stone fruits in the state in November. The Director (Horticulture) will be the chairman of the committee. The other members of the committee include Managing Director, HPMC, Managing Director Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board, Registrar, University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni and Deepak Singha, chairman of the Stone Fruit Growers Association.

As per the orders issued by Secretary Horticulture C Paulrasu, the committee will compile and consolidate the agenda items for the conference. Besides, the panel will also prepare a comprehensive status note incorporating inputs from concerned stakeholders and officers regarding the promotion of stone fruits production in the state. The committee has been asked to submit its report to the government by the end of this month.

Singha said diversification from apple to stone fruit had become the need of the hour considering climate change and other challenges facing apple cultivation. “The national conference on stone fruits will help people go beyond apple cultivation, especially in the areas where apple had been grown since long. Apple cultivation has become extremely challenging in such areas. Diversifying into stone fruits will prove beneficial for fruit growers in the temperate region of the state,” Singha said.