HP to motivate farmers of lower areas to cultivate apple crop

Shimla, Jul 8 (UNI) Taking cue from a farmer who successfully cultivated apple in the lower areas of Himachal Pradesh, state horticulture scientists will carry out exhaustive research to motivate farmers of the lower areas to cultivate apple crop.

Lauding Hari Man Sharma of Paniyala village in Ghumarwin tehsil of Bilaspur district for successfully cultivating apple, mango and litchi in the same farm, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said this had revolutionised the horticultural activities in the lower areas of the state.

"This farmer is a motivating force for other farmers of the lower areas of the state and would give a renewed momentum to the horticultural activities," Mr Dhumal said.

"Mr Sharma has proved that the apple could successfully be grown in the lower areas and warmer climatic conditions also," he said.

The state government would soon launch a special campaign to motivate the farmers to diversify their traditional cropping pattern and cultivate fast growing species of the apple and other fruits to strengthen their economy, he added.

The Chief Minister said the state government would also consider naming the apple variety of lower belts after Mr Sharma, who is the driving force behind the special campaign.

It would be a unique experiment in the state wherein the horticulture scientists would play a significant role in motivating the farmers to adopt the modern farming system, he said.

UNI AS PS VN1829