Apple farmers take lessons from New Zealand counterparts

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 20

Apple farmers from Himachal have learnt new ways to increase apple production in the state from their counterparts in New Zealand. The New Zealanders are now using robots, solar light and new apple varieties to take apple production to 140 tonnes per hectare in three to four years.

This came as a harbinger of fresh hope for farmers in Himachal at a time when the farmers here are facing tough time to deal with the dry spell, hail storms, climate change and crop failures over the years.

Himachal farmers who were in Christ Church and Welson, the two leading apple producing area in New Zealand last week, shared their experience with apple farmers from 40 countries there. The annual meet was organised by the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA), a world body of apple farmers, that concluded recently in New Zealand. India was represented by two farmers from Jubbal valley, Lakshman Thakur, chairman, Eco Horts, Nandpur and Jangvir Singh Dulta of Shimla district. The fruit scientists from New Zealand also interacted with them that gave them new insights on how to increase apple production in Himachal from dismal 12 tonne to 35 tonne per hectare.

Lakshman Thakur said, “It was an eye-opener for us how New Zealand government takes care for its horticulture. Our shoes were washed in solution to fumigate it for possible pathogens before we entered the apple orchards, which are ready for harvesting there these days”.