Solan: Himachal Pradesh is setting up a new plant health diagnostic clinic aimed at helping farmers tackle crop diseases earlier and more effectively. The foundation stone for the facility was laid virtually by Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Vice Chancellor Prof. HS Baweja. Located at the College of Horticulture and Forestry in Neri, Hamirpur, the clinic will serve as a regional hub for disease surveillance, diagnostics, and expert advisory services for local growers, researchers, and extension officers.
University officials noted that early detection of plant pathogens will allow farmers to target specific crop issues rather than applying broad or repeated treatments. This approach is designed to cut cultivation costs, lower pesticide residues, and protect local soil and water quality while preventing the spread of diseases into new orchards.
Prof. Baweja pointed out that shifting weather patterns and rising temperatures are changing how plant diseases spread, making proactive monitoring more important than ever for the region’s fruit and vegetable growers.
The facility will combine traditional diagnostic methods with advanced laboratory techniques and weather-based risk assessments. Alongside crop protection, the center is designed to foster rural entrepreneurship. University graduates and local youth will receive practical training in digital crop monitoring and precision farming, opening pathways for them to launch agri-tech start-ups, mobile diagnostic services, and independent advisory businesses. Faculty members, including Dean Dr. S.K. Bhardwaj and department heads, attended the virtual inauguration ceremony to mark the start of construction.
