Project to boost income of fruit growers in Kangra to cover five more horticulture blocks

The Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition (HP-SHIVA) project, which was launched by the state Horticulture Department in 2021-22 as a pilot initiative in seven Horticulture Development Blocks of Baijnath, Panchrukhi, Bhawarna, Sullah, Lambagaon, Dehra and Pragpur, is now set to be expanded to Nurpur, Fatehpur, Indora and Nagrota Surian and Rait horticulture blocks in Kangra.

In the first phase, 12 of the total 15 horticulture development blocks are being covered under the SHIVA project. Funded by Asian Development Bank, the project has raised hopes among fruit growers in the lower Kangra region, who have long struggled to develop orchards on their land. The project promotes high-density plantation through scientific and climate-smart technologies under a cluster-based and commercially-driven approach. Its objective is to enhance farm productivity, diversify cropping systems and significantly augment growers’ income. The beneficiaries receive both financial and technical support — from plantation to the marketing of their orchard produce.

According to Alaksh Pathania, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Dharamsala, the primary objective of the HP-SHIVA project is to curb the migration of youths, diversify cropping systems beyond traditional fruit cultivation and generate self-employment opportunities. “The project will help utilise the untapped potential of lower-lying and sub-tropical regions of the state,” he adds.

He says that in the first phase, the Horticulture Department has set a target to cover 1,019 hectares of cluster-based land under the project and so far, plantation has been done on 150 hectares and 533 hectares have been identified for the project in Kangra district.

As per information provided by the Horticulture Department, cluster formation for developing orchards is underway in the lower Kangra region in the Nurpur, Fatehpur, Indora and Nagrota Surian horticulture development blocks. In Fatehpur, cluster orchards have been developed in Kutkana and Dasoli villages, while in Nurpur horticulture block, such an orchard has come up in Pander village through the initiative of local farmers.

Sanjiv Naryal, a subject matter specialist, says that the project addresses key concerns such as the menace of stray animals, irrigation facilities, procurement of quality fruit plants, technical assistance for developing cluster-based orchards and the marketing of produce at remunerative prices. He adds that the saplings of orange and guava have initially been planted while growers are also being encouraged to cultivate litchi and dragon fruits.

Under the project, cluster orchards are being secured with solar energy wire fencing to protect them from stray and wild animals. The irrigation issue will be addressed through drip systems in coordination with the Jal Shakti Department. Defunct water sources and small irrigation schemes around these orchards will be revived. A team of scientists from the Horticulture Department will regularly visit the cluster orchards to impart scientific know-how and provide guidance to growers, ensuring sustainable and commercially viable fruit cultivation.