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Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan
Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, was established on 1st December, 1985 with the objective to promote education, research and extension education in the fields of Horticulture, Forestry and allied disciplines. Late Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, the first Chief Minister and the architect of Himachal Pradesh perceived the importance of Horticulture and Forestry to develop and improve the State economy which led to the establishment of this University. Its history lies in erstwhile Himachal Agricultural College, Solan, established in 1962 and affiliated to the Panjab University. It became one of the campuses of Agriculture Complex of Himachal Pradesh University on its formation in 1970. Consequent upon the establishment of Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya in 1978, this campus became its Horticulture Complex and finally in 1985, assumed the status of a State University, being the only University in the country engaged exclusively in teaching, research and extension in Horticulture and Forestry.
The University is located at Nauni in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh, 13 km from Solan on Solan-Rajgarh Road, at an elevation of 1300 metres above mean sea level. Solan town is situated on national highway (NH-22) and is well connected by train and bus services.
The University has four constituent colleges, out of which, two are located at the main campus Nauni, one for horticulture and the other for forestry, having 9 and 7 departments, respectively. The third College i.e., College of Horticulture & Forestry is located at Neri in Hamirpur District on Nadaun-Hamirpur state highway, about 6 Km from Hamirpur town and is well connected with bus service. The college offers three Undergraduate Degree Programmes i.e. BSc (Hons.) Horticulture, BSc (Hons.) Forestry and B. Tech. Biotechnology and MSc degree programme in a few subjects. The fourth college i.e. College of Horticulture and Forestry, Thunag (Mandi) is located at Thunag District Mandi. This college offer BSc (Hons.) Horticulture and BSc (Hons.) Forestry degree programme. In addition, there are five Regional Research Stations, 12 Satellite Stations and five Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) situated in different zones of the State.
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ThesisItem Open Access ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF WILD POMEGRANATE IN HIMACHAL PRADESH(2013) DOGRA, DEVENDER SINGH; VAIDYA, M.K.ABSTRACT In the present study entitled “Economics of Production and Marketing of Wild Pomegranate in Himachal Pradesh”, a multistage random sampling technique was used to select the sample. A sample of 40 farmers cultivating wild pomegranate plants was selected. The farmers were categorized on the basis of total size of land holding as marginal (<1 ha), small (1-2 ha), medium (2-4 ha), large (>4 ha). Local markets of Shimla, Solan and a distant market of Amritsar were selected purposively for conducting marketing study. A total sample of 5 local traders from local markets and 5 wholesalers from Amritsar market was selected randomly from the selected markets. Category wise cost of production was calculated and the financial tools like NPV, BCR, IRR were applied to determine the financial feasibility of the wild pomegranate plantations. Literacy situation revealed that nearly 80.45 per cent family members were literate at overall level. The majority of family members (24.44 %) had education up to matriculation level. Wild pomegranate occupies 0.08 ha of the agricultural area and 0.10 ha in ghasinis in the sampled farms at an overall level, which increased with size of the farm. The cropping intensity at overall level worked out to 134.31 per cent. The cultivation of wild pomegranate contributed 8.02 per cent to total household income at overall level. Per hectare total cost of cultivating wild pomegranate was Rs. 2752.50, Rs. 2979.50, Rs. 3078.00 and Rs. 3187.50 in marginal, small, medium and large farmers respectively. The maintenance cost of non-bearing plants was Rs. 3543.82, Rs. 3626.62 and Rs. 3714.28 per hundred plants in first, second and third year respectively. The share of labour cost varied from 19.49 to 20.50 per cent, while the proportion of family labour in total labour was 80.75 per cent. The per cent share of material cost in total cost was 22.15, 22.95 and 23.69 per cent in first, second and third year respectively. Maintenance cost during bearing stage at overall level was increasing with the age from Rs. 5567.36, Rs. 6818.71, Rs. 7662.97 to Rs. 8072.92 in the age groups of 4-7, 8-11, 12-15 and 16-24 years respectively and then decreased to Rs. 6994.22 and Rs. 6260.42 in the age group of 25-27 and 28-30 years respectively. The proportionate share of variable costs in the total cost was 49.60 to 65.49 per cent and showed increasing trend up to the age group of 16- 24 years and thereafter, a declining trend was observed. Fixed cost contributed 34.51 to 50.40 per cent in the total cost. The share of labour in total cost varied between 27.23 to 45.74 per cent in the different age groups. The share of family labour in total labour was about 80.00 per cent. The total material cost was found 14.22 to 17.02 per cent of total cost and showed an increasing trend with the increase in age. Processing cost which is a human labour cost and all work was carried out by family labour in all categories of farmers, was worked out to Rs. 6665.04, Rs. 23729.27, Rs. 26231.25, Rs. 32669.16, Rs. 26399.45 and Rs. 23532.04 for the fruits obtained in the age groups of 4-7, 8-11, 12-15, 16-24, 25-27 and 28-30 respectively, after which the cost of processing declined while the highest gross returns obtained was Rs. 53486.87 in the age group of 16-24 years. The pay back period of wild pomegranate plantation was at 8 years for all the farm categories. At overall level, NPV was estimated to be Rs. 19714.12 per hundred plants at 12 per cent discount rate and was negative for all the farm sizes at the discount rate of 24 per cent. The internal rate of return estimated to be 20.35 percent at overall level. At the discount rate of 12 per cent and 18 per cent benefit-cost ratio for all categories was found to be greater than unity. Further it was observed that marginal farmers could not bear any increase in costs up to 10 per cent at the discount rate of 12 per cent. Wild pomegranate plantations was feasible in case of medium and large farmers at the discount rate of 12 per cent if the returns decreased by 10 per cent however, marginal and small farmers could not bear this increase. At 18 per cent of discount rate only marginal farmers could withstand up to 10 per cent increase in costs, but if the returns decrease by 10 per cent the plantation could be failed. At the discount rate of 24 per cent no plantations are feasible. The agencies involved in the marketing of anardana and its by-product in the study area are local traders, primary wholesalers, secondary wholesalers and retailers. Local traders were found the most prominent intermediary in the marketing of anardana. It was observed that Channel- C; Producer–Local Trader–Secondary Wholesaler– Consumer (Industries), was found to be the most preferred channel, since 47.50 per cent of the produce was traded through this channel.Lack of irrigation facilities, lack of quality planting material and lack of technical knowhow were some of the production problems faced by the farmers in the study areas.ThesisItem Open Access PRODUCTIVITY ANALYSIS OF APPLE ORCHARDS IN SHIMLA DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH(2013) KIREETI, K.; SHARMA, L.R.ABSTRACT The present study entitled “Productivity analysis of apple orchards in Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh” was undertaken with a vision to study the status of apple productivity. Narkanda was selected randomly as the ultimate block of study from the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh state. The objectives were aimed at analyzing the trends in apple production and productivity, cost of apple cultivation and the factors affecting the apple production and productivity. The study sample was drawn using random sampling method in four stages making a total of 70 orchardist households from five altitudinal zones namely ≤ 1500 m, 1500-2000, 2000-2500, 2500 -3000 and 3000 m amsl respectively in the study area. General mathematical and statistical methods were utilized to perform the present study. Overall multiple regression analysis was carried to know the factors influencing the apple production and for evaluating the economic efficiency of resources. The literacy situation revealed that nearly 89 percent family members are literates in the study area. The average MSI value was calculated to 99.58 at overall level. It was observed that India has registered a compound growth rate of 1.1 MT/ha which is at par with the world average of 1.2 MT/ha in the context of apple productivity, whereas in Himachal Pradesh it was 0.03 MT/ha during the time period 1973-74 to 201112. The maximum mean productivity was noticed in France with an apple yield of 33.60 MT/ha over the 39 years. Among the districts of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla and Kinnaur have shown positive trend in all aspects of apple cultivation. The apple had the pride of having more than 89 per cent of the orchard area in the study region. The productivity analysis in different elevations in the study area revealed that the apple productivities were at par with each other except of that in the lowest elevation (≤ 1500 m). Majority of sampled orchardists in the study region, fall in the income scale of T 2-5 lakhs. On an average per tree establishment cost worked out to R 3318.19 in the study area. Maintenance cost of bearing apple per hundred in the study area ranged between R 60,169.88 to R 61,769.01in different elevations and net return varied between R 162,817.14 and R 269,362.63.17 in different elevations. However, the mean apple productivity (15.60 MT/ha) in the study area as a whole has shown similarity with that of the world average value. The regression analysis has indicated that there exist a scope to increase the apple productivity in the study block, by increasing the levels of the variables like FYM, Chemical fertilizers, human labour, fixed costs and also that it should stick to optimum no. of sprays for plant protection and plant density must be maintained. The findings of the present study strongly recommend the optimum use of the resources in order to adapt to the adverse conditions and attain desired growth in apple cultivation and ultimately the productivity.ThesisItem Open Access AMELIORATING FARM INCOME THROUGH AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES IN MID-HILL ZONE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH(2013) NISHA, DEVI; SHARMA, L.R.ABSTRACT In the present study entitled “Ameliorating Farm Income through Agroforestry Practices in Mid-Hill Zone of Himachal Pradesh” cluster sampling technique was used for selection of sampled households from a randomly selected Pachhad block in Sirmaur district. Sample of 30 households were drawn and were divided into small (<2ha), medium (24ha), and large (>4ha) farm categories. Literacy was 92.23% of sampled households. Agriculture was contributing maximum (52.96%) of total farm income followed by livestock and pasture (28.39%), horticulture (10.31%) and forestry (9.06%). So the system identified was Agri-Pastoral-Horti-Silviculture system. At overall level in 2012-13 agricultural income of household was 126278. Agriculture was main occupation of 78% workers. Grassland accounted highest proportion (61.41%) of total land holding. Average holding of farmers was 2.41 ha. and the share of cultivated land varied between 31.57% (medium farms) to 45.64 % small farms. Vegetables like tomato, capsicum, beans, peas comprised of 46.65% area, followed by cereals (43%) like maize, wheat, barley and agroforestry (8.21%) of gross cropped area. At overall level cropping intensity was 178.58% and density of trees was 42 trees per ha, which was highest on large farms. Average livestock holding of farmers was 7.04, comprised of cross-breed and local and are partly stallfed and partly grazed. Total cost incurred on components of system was 1.82 lacs and net income was Rs. 2.38 lacs. There was 100% adoption of HYVs in vegetables while 93% and 90% in maize and wheat. On an average farmers were using pesticides of Rs 6372 per ha and 104.63 kg fertilizers per ha of gross cropped area. Average crop yields of maize, tomato, capsicum, beans, wheat, barley and peas was 23.92, 188.29, 118.4, 86.58, 16.19, 17.16 and 64.47 Qtls per ha. In regression factors like farm size, family size, literacy, number of fragments was found significant and thus affect tree plantation activity on farms. Study showed that there was scope of increasing incremental income by Rs 29722 per ha from grassland by adopting new technology given by UHF Nauni, while, existing AF technology was more paying than new technology on cultivated land because wild Pomegranate was valuable species growing in that area. At overall level there exist scope of increasing net income of Rs. 26430 by further planting wild pomegranate trees on small (2), medium(7) and large(12) farm Category. Inadequate irrigation facilities, insect-pest and ravages of wild birds and animals were main problems in agriculture and horticulture. Non-availability of novel tree species, barriers for cutting of trees, long gestation period were problems related to forestry in study area. In pasture and livestock major problems were overgrazing and deforestation, poor quality of grasses. Lack of participatory approach, lack of involvement of social institutions and lack of incentives to farmers were some of the other problems in adopting agroforestry practices.ThesisItem Open Access DEMAND ANALYSIS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH BASED ON SELECTED PHARMACEUTICAL UNITS(2013) SHILPA; SHARMA, RAVINDERABSTRACT In the present study entitled “Demand analysis of medicinal plants in Himachal Pradesh based on selected pharmaceutical units”, a sample of 10 pharmaceutical units was selected randomly from the list of 41 pharmacies from Solan district. To analyze the demand of medicinal plants used by the pharmaceutical units 10 important medicinal plants were selected. The raw material purchased by the pharmaceutical units mainly comes from Khari-Bawli market of New Delhi and Majtih Mandi of Amritsar. To have an insight into the exact status of extraction of medicinal plants in the state, the extracted species were classified on the basis of habitat, habit, economic part used and present status. On the basis of habitat, only medicinal plants under cultivation showed a positive and significant growth (29.01%/annum) during P-I i.e., 1994-2003. While, during P-II i.e., from 20032012 upper hill subtropical and cold desert showed significant negative growth of (28.74%/annum) and (24.71%/annum) respectively. The variability also increased from P-I to P-II in all the habitats except in cold desert and temperate zone. The maximum average volume as well as revenue was extracted from the temperate zone (10657.79qtls.) and (Rs 3801816) respectively. During 1994-95 to 2011-12 herbs and trees showed significant declining growth of 7.62 and 18.80 per cent per annum respectively. The entire plant showed a negative and significant growth of 21.4 per cent per annum in P-I and seeds in P-II showed negative and significant growth of (45.00%/annum). But, in overall bark, entire plants and rhizomes showed negative significant growth rates (13.43%/annum), (19.44%/annum) and (10.50%/annum) respectively. On the other hand, Barah flowers showed positive and significant growth of 18.34 per cent per annum. The roots yield maximum average volume and maximum revenue of 11335.31 quintals and Rs.250397.33. respectively. The linear growth of medicinal plants based on their present status indicated that only commonly available medicinal plants showed a significant declining growth rate of 10.67 per cent per annum and 9.26 per cent per annum in P-II and overall respectively. The medicinal plant market in Himachal Pradesh is oligopsonic in nature i.e., a small number of large buyers controlling the buying side results in the dominance of buyers thus making medicinal plants market a buyer’s market and non-price competitive in nature. So, they compete with each other through improved working conditions and merging of two buyer’s results in greater control over the market and cooperation through secret collusion to control prices and exploitation of sellers. The analysis showed that all the medicinal plants showed significantly increasing growth except in case of Bankakdi, Kuth, Kutki and Safed Musli. The variability ranged from 68.01 to 2.06 per cent. The real prices showed similar trend as nominal prices except in Banafsha. The own price elasticity of the medicinal plants showed price inelastic demand that ensures a steady market for them. Most of the species showed normal price-demand behavior except Bankakdi, Kuth and Kutki. The reasons for the positive demand-price relationship were derived demand for medicinal plants and the priority of the pharmacy for the finished products. It has been suggested that medicinal plants like Kutki, Kuth and Bankakdi should be given priority in the light of their positive scarcity ratios.