Himachal’s Mandi becomes fruit hub with high-quality crops

Mandi: The Himachal government’s relentless efforts for the promotion of horticulture have started giving dividends. As per the recent report, Mandi district has been producing high-quality fruit plants, and now it emerges as the fruit hub in the state, including foreign varieties. The Horticulture Department’s Nursery Management Society, under the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project, has developed several crops, such as apple, apricot, and plum plants, now being cultivated in Mandi; after that, they are being sent to other regions.

On December 5, a delegation from Leh-Ladakh University’s School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, including Assistant Professors Dr Kunz Angmo and Dr Kunjang Lamo, visited fruit propagation centers at Janjehli, Samarahan, Harabag, and the Rich Nursery Nandi in Seraj. They checked high-quality plants that were developed by the department.

Also Read: Delhi’s AQI slips to ‘poor’ category

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Deputy Director of Horticulture, highlighted that 2,645 grafted apple plants—varieties like Red Velox, Gala Sinka Red, Galawal, Redlum Gala, and Dark Baron Gala—were distributed, alongside 100 apricot plants, 100 plum plants, and 300 rootstock plants (Budd-9, Budd-10, and Budd-118). These plants, valued at Rs. 5,25,020, were supplied to Leh-Ladakh University.

Dr Gupta emphasized that the Horticulture Department has been producing premium plants that are being distributed to other parts of the country. It should be considered a milestone for the Mandi district of the state. This success exhibits Himachal’s dedication to the pushing of horticulture and its innovation in the entire state. That makes it a leader in advanced fruit production techniques.