Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Solan Kandaghat, Solan(HP)

Dr Amit Vikram
Principal Scientist & Head

Horticultural Research &Training Station and KVK, Solan at Kandaghat was established in the year 1921 and is situated on the NH 22 between Solan and Shimla at an elevation of 1460 ma.m.s.l.This Station was established by the Maharaja of Patiala in 1921 as his kitchen garden and remained under the Patiala State upto 1950. From 1950-56, it was under the PEPSU Government. Thereafter, from 1956-62, it was under Punjab Agriculture Department; 1962-70 under Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; 1970-78 under Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and from 1978-85 this station was under Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur.

On the advice of Prof. R.W. Hodgson, University of California, the stone fruit cultivation was started at this station in 1936. Since then, this station has played a significant role in selection and recommendation of stone fruit varieties for mid-hill conditions of the state. From 1985 onwards, it became Fruit Research Station later renamed as Horticultural Research Station and became a part of Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan.During the year 1990, this station also started research work on seed production of vegetable and flower crops.

From 2000, this station was assigned the additional responsibility of Re-mandated Krishi Vigyan Kendra until February, 2004 after which it was elevated to a full-fledged Krishi Vigyan Kendra for Solan district of Himachal Pradesh with additional responsibility of Horticultural Research Station till 2014. This station was then renamed as Horticultural Research & Training Station andKrishi Vigyan Kendra in 2014.

Mandate

Conducting On-farm testing to identify the location specificity of agricultural technologies under various farming systems
Organizing frontline demonstrations to establish production potential of various crops and enterprises on the farmers’ fields
Organizing need based training of farmers to update their knowledge and skills in modern agricultural technologies

Strengths

Hostel facility (32 beds) is available at KVK where farmers and students from within state and out of states are frequently visiting and stay for training purpose.
Water distillation unit and soil testing laboratory to analyze primary(N,P,K) and secondary nutrients (Ca,Mg,S) besides pH, EC, OC,BD, PD, and moisture content in soils.
Elite quality planting material of temperate fruits, vegetables and ornamental plantsis being maintained, propagated and made available to the growers within and outside the state.
Providing solution to the need based field problems of the beekeepers, farmers growing mushroom and cultivating sub-temperate and sub-tropical fruits, vegetables and flowers.
Demonstration units of Climate controlled mushroom production, hydroponic unit, high density plantation of apple and bud wood orchards of temperate fruits. Nursery of seasonal and perennial ornamental plants.

Academics

This station is conducting Rural Agriculture Work Experience (RAWE)/ Rural Horticulture Work Experience (RHWE) programme for the B.Sc Final year students of College of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni Solan, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Thunag, Mandi and College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur for the duration of 10 to 15 days.

Exposure visits (More than 50) of school children(senior secondary/ high schools) is being conducted at this station on various aspects of horticulture crops.
More than ten On-Job Training (OJT) programme has been conducted/ organized by this station.
Farm experience of RAWE/RHWE students of Sc Final year is being carried out at this station.
Exposure visit of students of different universities is being carried out by this station.

Research

Thrust Areas

Mass multiplication of clonal rootstocks of apple. Establishment and performance study of newly introduced cultivars of persimmon, plum and walnut.
Standardization of production and plant protection techniques of vegetables and fruit crops under SubhashPalekar Natural Farming system.
Evaluation and identification of horticultural superior genotypes of garlic and offseason vegetable production.
Assessment of soil quality parameters in fruit and vegetable crops besides standardization of low cost fertigation scheduleand growing media for ornamental plants.
Isolation, diagnosis and eco-friendly management of diseases and insect pests of fruits, vegetablesand ornamental plants.

Ongoing Research Projects (Externally Funded)

HimachalPradesh Horticulture Development Project(HP-HDP) funded by World Bank, Department of Horticulture, Himachal Pradesh for ₹104 lakh from 2016 to 2023.
Honey and other Hive products production model for sustainable high hill beekeeping in Himachal Pradesh funded by MM-I and MM-IIof National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) for ₹ 335.27 lakh from 2023 to 2024.

Extension

Assessment of location-specific technology modules in agriculture and allied enterprises through technology assessment, refinement and demonstrations. This station is supporting the rural farmers by transferring new technologies to them and hence promoting scientific and technological research and the associated skills and procedures to wider society and the marketplace. The main function is to undertake vocational trainings and on farm testing of the technologies.

Achievements

406 trainings (9695 participants), nine skill development trainings (217 participants) have been organized for improving existing skills of farmers of the state.
On- farm trails (37), Front Line demonstrations (64) and Cluster Front Line demonstrations (10) benefitting199,1042 and 636 farmers, respectively have been conducted.
Nine KisanMelas and 16KisanGosthis have been organized on production and protection technology in fruits, mushroom, vegetables, ornamentals and beekeeping (1621 beneficiaries).
More than 70 exposure visits for the farmers of Solan Distrcit, adjoining district and states have been conducted to this station.
The scientists have delivered 18 television talks and have published 39 publications in production and protection technology of fruits, vegetables, ornamentals and mushroom.

Awards/ Recognitions

Best KVK award (Himachal Pradesh) 2019 by Director, ICAR, ATARI, Zone-1, PAU Campus, Ludhiana on dated July 7, 2020.
Seema Thakur received Utkrishth Vaigyanik Samman -2021 from Madhya Krishak BharatiP rakshan, Gwalior.
Arti Shukla honoured with the Best Extension Scientist Award during 3^rd National Conference of Society of KrishiVigyan organized at Ujjain w.e.f. 17-19 October,2022.
Anurag Sharma received Best Paper Presentation award for presenting the paper titles “Winter management of Apis Cerana indica F by feeding pollen substitutes at Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh” during the 3^rd National conference of the Society of Krishi Vigyan Kendras entitled “Natural farming, organic farming and chemical farming in India” held at Ujjain w.e.f. 17-19 October,2022.
Seema Thakur was awarded India’s 100 future leaders 2023 for pioneering and inspiring people in the field of Vegetable Science from Glantor X News.

Facilities

Well furnished farmer’s hostel.
Three seminar/ conference halls.
Bud-wood orchards of apple, apricot, plum, peach, nectarines, persimmon and kiwifruit.
Soil testing laboratory and modern farm technologies like agri-drone, solar fencing, drip irrigation, tractors, power tillers, power sprayers etc.
Climate controlled mushroom unit, low cost mushroom hut and hydroponic unit.