By planting over 39,000 plants, mostly apple, the Solan-based Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF) is aiming to improve the economy of Kinnaur farmers by 2022.

The apple plants have been sown under Hill Agriculture and Rural Development Promotion Society (HARP). This Tribal Development Project is being implemented by HARP and it is funded by NABARD.

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Through this seven-year project worth around Rs 9.43 Crore (after adding personal contributions and convergence of other schemes), the varsity aims to the increase the livelihood of 643 farmers of Rupi, Chhota Kamba and Nathpa gram panchayats in the Nichar block of Kinnaur district.

In addition, the scientists of the UHF’s Regional Horticulture and Training Station located at Sharbo have also been acting as resource persons for various skill development programmes of the Society and providing institutional training to the farmers on pruning of trees.

The main component of this livelihood project is the establishment of apple, walnut, chuli (wild apricot) and pear orchards in around 400 acres of the selected region.

“Apple will be planted in the main area, while chuli, walnut and pear orchards will be established in Rupi, Chota Khamba and Nathpa respectively. The chosen area was an economically backward region with limited livelihood avenues. By putting a large area under apple cultivation, which is a cash crop in the temperate wet climate, we can hope to substantially improve the economy,” UHF Vice Chancellor Dr HC Sharma said.

He said the University has always been at the forefront of activities for the benefit of farmers. “We have been providing nursery plants to HARP for the past three years. This year, we have provided 6,158 apple plants of high yielding spur and royal varieties along with 150 walnut plants to them,” he said.

He said every year, the university provides quality planting material of various high yielding varieties of apple, kiwi, pomegranate, apricot, peach, nectarine, cherry, walnut, pecan nut, persimmon, pear, plum and almond to the farmers at the University campus and through its Research Stations and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.