California Almonds: A Path to Wealth for Himachal’s Gardeners
Himachal Pradesh is set to experience a significant boost in its horticultural industry with the introduction of California almonds, which are expected to make gardeners in the state prosperous. Under the Horticulture Development Project, 20,000 grafted plants and 36,000 rootstock plants of California almonds have been cultivated. These plants were imported from California two years ago, marking the first step towards the state’s adoption of this high-value crop.
After undergoing a mandatory quarantine period, the plants are now ready for distribution to local gardeners. The Horticulture Department will be making these plants available at the Fruit Progeny and Demonstration Centers (PCDO) across the state, enabling gardeners to start cultivating California almonds in their orchards.
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California almonds are known for their high yield, with the plants typically starting to bear fruit just two years after planting. The blooming process begins in the third week of February, and the almonds are ready for harvest by the end of August. The almonds produced from this variety are of medium to large size, with a thin, paper-like skin, and a superior taste and quality that sets them apart from local varieties.
One of the standout features of California almonds is their low chilling requirement, needing only 500 to 600 hours of cold exposure, which is ideal for Himachal’s climate. The state’s horticulture has traditionally focused on varieties like Carmel, Wood Colony, Monter Aldrich, and Eurogen, but the introduction of California almonds is expected to elevate the industry.
Unlike many other almond-growing regions, Himachal’s almonds are produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or fungicides, ensuring that they are completely organic. This aligns with the growing global demand for organic products, providing an additional market advantage.
For the first time, the Himachal Horticulture Department is providing high-quality California almond plants to the state’s gardeners, helping them tap into this lucrative opportunity. With these new plants, Himachal’s horticultural sector is poised to take a giant leap forward, making the state’s almond growers more competitive and prosperous.
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