Fruit grower cultivates mango in apple Belt

Shimla, Aug 5 (UNI) A progressive fruit grower surprised every one when he successfully cultivated mango in the apple belt of Kotgarh in this district.

Gopal Mehta has cultivated Dasahri, Langda, Chausa, Amarapali, Ratna, Malda, Mali, Alfanso and new variety Annapurna mango in 40 bighas of land by planting 500 plants. Besides, he is also having 15 varieties of apple and cherry.

He presented his first box of 'Dasahri' Mango to Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here today.

Chief Minister congratulated him for this innovation and said that he had set an example for next generation farmers.

Mr Mehta, who carries his entire farming through organic methods, has also succeded in cultivating apple crop between 3000 to 5000 feet. Apple crop generally grows above 5000 feet.

UNI XC PS MMS1803