Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has been taking all necessary steps to improve the horticulture production in the state. Therefore, the department distributed about 22,500 apple plants to farmers in numerous horticulture centers in Kinnaur. Seedlings of several plants, such as advanced apple varieties and winter fruit plants, including persimmon (Japanese fruit), peach, almond, plum, apricot, walnut, and kiwi. The initiative is expected to boost horticulture crop yields in Himachal.
Dr. B.S. Negi, Deputy Director of the Horticulture Department, said that several apple varieties distributed include Royal Delicious, Early Red One, Hepke, Maima Master, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Superchief, and many more.
This year the department has decided to distribute plants grown on clonal rootstock; farmers like to purchase them in bulk. Apart from apples, plants of numerous fruits such as 2,700 persimmon, 1,100 kiwi, 320 apricot, 105 peach, 530 almond, and 175 walnut plants were also distributed to the horticulture farmers.
Farmers can purchase different kinds of apple plants, which are available at numerous horticulture extension centers at government rates. At present, 3,100 apple plants are available on seedling rootstock. Besides this, apple plants grown on different clonal rootstocks are also available, including MM-111 (396 plants), BUD-118 (891), M.106 (1,770), and so on.
The farming community has the opportunity to visit their nearest horticulture extension centers to get such plants at subsidized rates. They can visit their nearest horticulture extension centers to purchase these plants at subsidized rates. Reckong Peo is the well-known center, where plants are available for distribution as well.
