RHRS Mashobra: The Cradle of Himachal's Apple Revolution

Shimla, March 10: Tucked away 15 km from Shimla, the Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS), Mashobra—once known as Cutts Garden or Fruit Research Station—holds the roots of Himachal Pradesh’s apple legacy.

The first apple in the region was planted here in 1882 by Alexander Cutts, a tailor to the then Viceroy of India, laying the foundation for what would become a ₹5,000 crore apple economy.

From Orchard to Economic Backbone

RHRS Mashobra was not just the starting point but also the backbone of apple research and disease management in Himachal Pradesh.

Once home to 340 apple varieties from the world’s best repositories, this research station played a pivotal role in shaping the apple industry in the state.

However, it was in the early 1980s that its contribution truly changed the game. When apple scab struck the orchards of Himachal Pradesh, threatening to wipe out production, RHRS Mashobra led a revolutionary disease management approach that was distinct from global standards, particularly the Mills' Criteria followed in Michigan, USA.

Scab Crisis and the Fightback

Apple scab, a devastating fungal disease, triggered widespread tree-cutting across Himachal post-1983, bringing apple growers to their knees.

But RHRS Mashobra’s research, tailored to the state’s conditions, helped develop a forecasting system that put scab under control.

While Michigan’s Mills' Criteria suggested fungal infection occurs between 9 to 13 hours of wetness, Himachal’s conditions required a different assessment.

RHRS scientists adapted the forecast, leading to targeted interventions that eventually curbed the scab outbreak.

This research became the backbone of apple disease management, saving orchards and reviving the apple economy.

Tourism Potential & Future Prospects

Today, RHRS Mashobra is not just a research center but a living museum of Himachal’s apple heritage.

With a growing interest in agro-tourism, this historical orchard, which witnessed the first apple plantations in the state, has the potential to become a must-visit destination for tourists, horticulturists, and researchers alike.

From its pioneering role in introducing apples to Himachal to its life-saving research during the scab crisis, RHRS Mashobra remains the unsung hero of the state’s apple economy.

Without its contributions, Himachal may never have earned the title of India’s Apple State.