Agriculture
Empowering Over 1 Lakh Small Farmers and Agro-Entrepreneurs: The Impact of Himachal’s Horticulture Project
“Himachal Imports 33 Lakh Fruit Plants as Part of Rs 1,046 Crore World Bank-Backed Horticulture Initiative”
Himachal Pradesh, Kumud Sharma, January 23: The Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project, a Rs 1,046 crore initiative funded by the World Bank, has made a significant impact on the state’s agricultural landscape. Benefiting around 1.50 lakh small farmers and agro-entrepreneurs, the project, which ran from 2016 to its completion in October 2024, was designed to enhance the productivity, quality, and market reach of horticultural produce in Himachal Pradesh. By improving farming practices, introducing high-quality plant varieties, and expanding market linkages, the project has helped uplift local farmers, creating sustainable growth opportunities in the horticulture sector.
Over the course of its eight-year span, Himachal Pradesh’s horticulture project successfully imported a staggering 33.20 lakh plants, featuring 122 varieties of 11 different fruits, including apples, California almonds, walnuts, and cherries. Among these, apples dominated with 28.57 lakh plants, while 54,000 pear plants, 27,140 walnut plants, and 17,200 California almond plants were also brought in. The project expanded its range further by introducing plants of peaches, stone fruits, plums, hazelnuts, nectarines, and apricots, sourced from countries like the US, Germany, Italy, France, and Siberia, enriching the state’s horticultural diversity and boosting its agricultural potential.
Satish Kumar Sharma, Joint Director of Horticulture, shared key insights about the project’s plant imports, revealing that of the 33.20 lakh imported plants, 13.09 lakh were grafted plants, while 17.12 lakh were rootstocks carefully stored in 93 Progeny-cum-Demonstration Orchards, all under stringent quarantine protocols. He further emphasized that, in response to the growing demand, the state also propagated millions of plants in its own nurseries, ensuring a steady supply to meet the needs of local farmers and agro-entrepreneurs.
A grafted plant consists of two distinct parts: the scion, which is the upper portion containing the desired variety, and the rootstock, which forms the base of the plant. The rootstock provides essential support, including a strong root system and resistance to certain pests and diseases, while the scion contributes the specific traits and qualities of the preferred variety. This combination allows farmers to benefit from the best attributes of both, ensuring enhanced growth and yield.
Sudershan Thakur, an orchardist from Rampur-Bushahr in Shimla district, highlighted the increasing demand for imported plants, noting that while the need grows every year, the supply from the state horticulture department falls short. He pointed out that the limited availability is further strained by farmers from neighboring states like Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, who also vie for the same high-quality plants, making it even more challenging for local farmers to secure the necessary stock for their orchards.
To bridge the gap in demand, private nurseries have stepped in, independently importing plants from abroad to cater to the growing needs of orchardists. However, Sudershan Thakur pointed out a notable disparity in pricing, with private nurseries charging significantly higher rates compared to the government horticulture department. This price difference adds an additional challenge for farmers, who must balance the cost of acquiring high-quality plants with the financial constraints of running their orchards.
A state horticulture department officer revealed that approximately 600 private nurseries are currently registered with the state government, many of which actively import fruit plants from overseas. These nurseries play a crucial role in supplementing the state’s plant supply, catering to the rising demand from farmers who seek diverse and high-quality varieties for their orchards. However, the influx of these imported plants also highlights the growing reliance on both public and private sectors to meet the needs of the horticulture industry in Himachal Pradesh.
A source revealed that in the 2023-24 period, the state government set the price for grafted apple, pear, and peach plants imported from the US at Rs 400 each, offering a more affordable option for farmers. In contrast, private nurseries charged around Rs 700 for similar imported plants. For the 2024-25 season, the state horticulture department once again set competitive prices, pricing US-imported peach, nectarine, plum, and almond plants at Rs 300 per plant, underscoring the department’s effort to provide cost-effective alternatives amidst rising market prices.
Horticulture Development Officer Suresh Negi shared that despite the conclusion of the project, the state continues to support local farmers with imported plants. “We still have a significant stock available,” he said, adding that over four lakh rootstocks and grafted plants have been propagated in government-run nurseries. This effort ensures a steady supply of high-quality plants to meet the ongoing demand from local farmers, helping sustain the horticulture sector in the region even after the project’s official end.
| Plants Aplenty | |||
| Fruit | Grafted | Rootstock | Total |
| Apple | 12,02,272 | 16,55,703 | 28,57,975 |
| Pear | 46,064 | 8,024 | 54,080 |
| Walnut | 20,140 | 7,000 | 27,140 |
| Peach | 9,747 | 6,000 | 15,747 |
| Stone Fruit & Krymsk 86 | 0 | 14,000 | 14,000 |
| Plum | 5,825 | 992 | 4,617 |
| Hazelnut | 1,920 | 0 | 1,920 |
| California Almond | 11,700 | 5,500 | 17,200 |
| Nectarine | 1,250 | 0 | 1,250 |
| Apricot | 280 | 0 | 280 |
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