Kharif Campaign 2016 Group No 7 on Technology

Kharif Campaign 2016 Group No. 7 on Technology led growth in Horticulture for increased production and productivity Presented by: Dr. S. K. Malhotra, Agriculture & Horticulture Commissioner

Production Related Issues • Inadequate availability of planting material. • High prevalence of senile orchards. • Rain fed horticulture. • Lower productivity. • Insufficient trained manpower.

Way Forward • Emphasis on establishment of mother blocks/ rootstock blocks with hi-tech nurseries & tissue culture units. • Accreditation of nurseries. • Area expansion linked to availability of quality planting material. • Covering more areas under F 1 vegetable hybrids. • Cultivation of vegetables for round the year production. • Establishment of crop based centre of excellence.

Way Forward • Promotion of high density/ ultra high density planting systems in potential crops. • Tree canopy management right from establishment stage. • Integrated approach on micro irrigation & mulching. • Rejuvenation of old, senile & unproductive orchards. • Protected cultivation of high value crops. • Promotion of mechanization in horticulture. • Capacity building through training & demonstration of improved technologies.

Researchable Issues • Making available nucleus seeds and planting material of new improved varieties. • Evolve varieties/ rootstocks which are tolerant to drought, frost, pest & diseases. • Assess water/ nutrient requirement of different plant densities for varied agro climatic zones. • Develop models for tree canopy architecture for important fruit crops. • Develop efficient system to identify and monitor pests & diseases of important crops.

Nursery raising using protray method with single bud rhizomes • Screening of diseased seed/seedling possible. • Reduced seed rate requirement. • Low cost of cultivation

Rootstocks Block

Aeroponics- Potato Seed Production • Plants are grown in troughs, tubes or other type of chambers • Roots are hanged in space and are periodically bathed in nutrient mist • Easily absorb nutrients • Easily absorb oxygen • Less chance of root zone diseases

Long day Onion varieties • • • Uttarakhand, HP, J&K. 500 ha each state Sown : October-November Transplanting: February Harvesting: July Production: 20000 metric ton Sufficient seed not available Brown Spanish and VL 3 Storage structures not available

Protected structures Greenhouses a) Climate controlled b) Semi-climate controlled c) Naturally ventilated d) Raised arch Net-houses: a) Insect-proof nets b) Shade nets Other Temporary structures a) Walk-in-tunnels b) Plastic Low tunnels c) Plastic mulches