Solan: The 5th Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Lahaul and Spiti-II was held on Saturday at Tabo. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni. Dr. Inder Dev, Director of Extension Education, along with members from various line departments, progressive farmers, and scientists, participated in the meeting. Dr. Rajesh Rana, Principal Scientist at ICAR-ATARI Zone-I, attended the meeting virtually.
Dr. RS Sephia, Incharge of KVK Tabo, welcomed the SAC members and presented the KVK’s activity report for the past year, along with the action plan for the upcoming year. He highlighted the KVK’s efforts to improve scientific cultivation of fruits and vegetables, as well as food processing of excess and unmarketable produce, benefiting the farming community of Spiti Valley.
In his address, Prof. Chandel commended the KVK’s role in promoting apple cultivation and other agricultural activities, which have enhanced economic prosperity for local farmers. He proposed focusing on carrying out seed selection of barley, a prominent crop in Spiti, and encouraging its cultivation as an intercrop with apples. Additionally, he recommended expanding the use of natural farming practices for major crops like peas and vegetables. Prof. Chandel also praised farmers in villages like Hurling for their voluntary efforts to adopt chemical-free natural farming. He encouraged the KVK to focus on post-harvest management for local grains and agri-horti produce. Prof. Chandel also advocated for branding agricultural produce and forming Farmer Producer Companies (FPOs) in the region to fetch better pricing through collective bargaining.
Dr. Inder Dev, Director of Extension Education, emphasized the importance of collaboration between farmers and line departments to promote local agricultural knowledge and solutions. Dr. Rajesh Rana emphasized the region’s high-quality, nutritious produce as a significant advantage and encouraged the development of branding strategies, as well as the strengthening of local FPOs to increase volumes. SAC members made additional suggestions, including the establishment of a demonstration area for aromatic and medicinal plants including seabuckthorn at KVK, which could serve as an educational tool for farmers. The member from the Forest Department raised concerns about the declining cultivation of barley, which threatens biodiversity, citing the reduction in sightings of certain bird species. Increased collaboration with the Forest Department to establish nurseries for medicinal plants was also suggested. Progressive farmers also recommended solar drying for excess fruits and vegetables to preserve them for off-season use. Furthermore, educating the hospitality industry to incorporate locally grown produce in homestays and hotels, benefiting the local economy was also taken up during the meeting.
In a separate event, a farmer-scientist interaction was held at Hurling village, where around 80 farmers participated. The discussion focused on the certification of natural farming. All members were assured of the university’s and KVK’s technical support for natural farming activities. Efforts will also be made to establish a Farmer Producer Company in Hurling and work towards declaring the panchayat a ‘natural farming panchayat’.
