Apple, being an important fruit crop of the mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh is currently covering an area of approximately 38,000 ha with the production of 499422 MT in Shimla District only. Traditionally, being known for producing the “Delicious” cultivars of apple, however, less proportion of pollinizer was used in apple orchard that resulted into lower productivity despite the increase in the area. The alternate bearing, low spur formation, less fruit set are also some of the problems that have been encountered by the growers. Further, the poor coloration at lower elevation and delayed maturity at higher elevation aggravated the problems under the climate change scenario that resulted into low productivity and profitability. With an aim to address these problems, the need for promoting the various self-pollinated/self-fruitful, spur type and other coloured strains for higher fruit yield and enhancing income was felt.
Plan, implementation and testing
While keeping the decline in production and poor fruit quality in the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh in view, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Rohru (District Shimla) under the administrative control of Dr. Y.S. Parmar, University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan undertook the several interventions for replacing the Delicious variety with the coloured/spur strains. During the initial stage, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra assessed the coloured/spur type strains during the Year - 2005 to 2009.
Looking into the promising results, KVK conducted Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) involving 100 farmers during Years - 2010 to 2018. Simultaneously, the various capacity development programmes were also organised for motivating and mainstreaming more than 4,000 famers/growers with an aim to upgrade their knowledge and skills. KVK regularly conducted diagnostic visits for solving the problems being faced by the farmers. The Farmers were also motivated through the exposure visit at the KVK farm, conducting location specific training camps and helped in developing their own mother plants of suitable varieties.
Output
The KVK supplied more than 50,000 planting material of coloured strain/spur type cultivars (Gale Gala, Scarlet Spur, Red Chief) in the last one decade. The plant density of the traditional most popular cultivar (Delicious) is 300 plants/ha, whereas, the plant density of spur type coloured strains was suggested to be around 600 plants/ha due to its canopy size. In addition to the supply of quality planting material, the KVK also guided the farmers in laying out the orchard in scientific way in different parts of the District. In sloppy areas, the planting was done in the contour system, whereas, in the valley areas, the farmers were advised for adopting the square/rectangular or hexagonal system based on topography.
For horizontal spread in large area, the KVK developed Bud Wood Bank (BWB) for these spur type and coloured strains for the supply of quality planting material at affordable prices. The KVK also supplied about 40,000 Scion woods of coloured strains of apple.
The introduction of these coloured strains/spur cultivars (regular bearing and less chilling requirement) in the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh showed encouraging results. Many orchardists from the different parts of the district approached the Krishi Vigyan Kendra for the supply of quality planting material for changing their old and senile orchards. The average yield of Delicious variety of apple was 7.7 t/ha, that has now increased to 19.4 t/ha due to the replacement of these strains. The average net return from the Spur type cultivars (Rs 9.16 lakh/ha) of apple has also increased significantly with comparison to the traditional Delicious cultivars (Rs 1.59 lakh/ha). Consequently, the B:C ratio of Spur type cultivars varied from 3.94 to 5.4, that is quite high with comparison to the delicious cultivars. The Government support is the need of the hour for doubling the farmers’ income for promoting these coloured and spur type cultivars of apple in Himachal Pradesh.
Impact
Currently more than 25% area (around 9500 ha) has been shifted to spur type and coloured strains orchards. The increase in fruit yield (151%) and net return (474%) from the coloured strains was much higher than the traditional (Delicious) cultivars of apple. The increase in income has ultimately improved the living standard of the farmers.
This transformation also resulted in generating the additional employment as more labour was engaged for handling the increased produces. Consequently, the process helped in reducing the migration rate of the unemployed rural youths in the hills.
Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Ludhiana
