Shimla,July 08:Horticulture Scientists would be carrying exhaustive research to motivate farmers of the lower areas of the state to cultivate and plant the apple by taking inspiration from the successful experimental efforts made by a progressive farmer, Shri Hari Man Sharma of village Paniyala in Ghumarwin tehsil of district Bilaspur,
who had successfully cultivated apple, mango and litchi in the same farm and revolutionized the horticultural activities in the lower areas of the state. This was stated by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister when Shri Hari Man Sharma, presented the produce of his farm to the Chief Minister here today.
Chief Minister said that Shri Hari Man Sharma would be a motivating force to give renewed momentum to revolutionize the horticultural activities and had shown that the apple could be grown in the lower areas and warmer climatic conditions also. He congratulated Shri Hari Man Sharma and said that the state government would be launching a special campaign to motivate the farmers to diversify their traditional cropping pattern and adopt modern modes by cultivating fast growing species of the apple and other fruits so that their economy was strengthened. He said that the state government would be considering naming the apple variety of lower belts after Shri Mari Han Sharma who would be the driving force behind the special campaign and motivate the farmers to grow high altitude fruits in the lower areas as well. He said that it would be a unique experiment in the state wherein the horticulture scientists would be playing significant role in motivating the farmers to adopt the modern farming system.
Prof. Dhumal said that Himachal Pradesh was popularly known as the ‘Apple State of India’ for its quality produce since the state had varied climatic conditions suitable to cultivate different species of fruits and crops. He said that the state government had already started the soil testing process to achieve the target of issuing one lakh soil cards to the farmers, suggesting them appropriate crop cultivation to get maximum yield of the same. He said that it would be the earnest endeavour of the state government to give renewed momentum to the farming activities in the state and strengthen the economy of the farmers. He said that major chunk of the state population was dependant upon the farming activities for their livelihood and the state government was committed to make agriculture a viable avocation. He directed the state scientists to visit the farmers and motivate them to adopt modern farming and cultivation so that the state was capable to produce varied varieties of fruit, off season vegetable and other cash crops.