SHIMLA: Apple farmers got tips on how to raise high-density orchards at a training programme held at Fruit Research Centre Mashobra. 

But just 25 farmers and 30 officers got tips as the camp was not circulated to the large number of farmers. 

Horticulture & Tribal Development Minister, Jagat Singh Negi and Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mohan Lal Brakta today distributed master trainer certificates them.

The Institutional Master Trainers training was conducted by the International Experts from the New Zealand Plant Food And Research (NZPFR) Limited under the World Bank funded, HP Horticulture Development Project.

The technical expert from New Zealand Dr. Steph Montgomery Programme Manager, Dr. Jack Hughes- Plant Physiologist, Dr. Mike Nelson Nutrition expert, Dr. David Manktelow Plant Protection, Pathology provided detailed training to the participants on the establishment and management of High Density Orchards and also gave practical field demonstration on management seedling based trees.

Negi said Main objective of hiring the experts is to strengthen implementation capacities of the Department of Horticulture, farmers and improvement in productivity of apple fruit crops by dissemination of relevant information and advanced technology for establishment of high and medium density orchards and scientific management of existing orchards. 

New Zealand experts have trained about 500 technical officers and 4000 farmers by giving Institutional and hands on trainings on various aspects viz, canopy management, crop load management, tree nutrition,  trunk girdling, bending, notching, new orchard planting, irrigation management, insect & disease management etc.

The Departmental Officers are being trained as Master Trainer and have already been imparted three rounds of trainings and all these officers are actively involved during the field demonstrations being conducted by the New Zealand experts in clusters.

During the current training programme lessons and technical know-how on orchard renovation, fungicides and biocontrol, key factor for nutrient management, growing system for HP, disease risk and management, physiological disorders, growing Gala & Fuji, soils assessment & nitrate testing spray application, training and pruning etc. was imparted.

The participants were also facilitated to visit the Regional Horticulture Research and Training Institute, Mashobra for practical demonstrations.

As a part of extension strategy of the HP Horticulture Development Project, it is expected that with the training of such a large number of Master Trainers, it will help in the rapid dissemination of the new technology to the fellow officers and farmers.

The Project Director, Sudesh Mokhta, Director of Research, Joint Directors of Horticulture and Deputy Directors of Horticulture as well as other senior officers of Horticulture Department attended the event.