Tributes paid to Dr. YS Parmar on 117th birth anniversary
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Farmers apprised about high-density apple plantations during Apple Day
Rich tributes were paid today to the architect of modern Himachal Pradesh and the first Chief Minister Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar on his 117th birth anniversary at Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni. To celebrate the occasion, the university organized an apple day at the university where over 150 progressive farmers from Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts participated.
The event began with the university officials and staff paying floral tributes to the visionary leader whose efforts led to the full statehood of Himachal Pradesh. Professor Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, University Vice-Chancellor said that the naming of the university after the visionary leader of Himachal was a matter of great pride and honour for all the students and staff of the university. He said that Dr. Parmar had a scientific vision and had envisioned that sustainable horticulture and forest resources were the basis of our future economic prosperity.
To showcase the high-density apple plantations and technologies developed by the university, an apple day was organised at the fruit science apple orchard. The idea behind the event was to apprise and address the queries of farmers on high-density apple plantations. Dr. DP Sharma, HOD Department of Fruit Science and the scientists of the different departments addressed the queries of the farmers during the field visit and later a farmer-scientist interaction was also held at the Directorate of Extension Education. The University Vice Chancellor and scientists of the university addressed the queries of the farmers on nutrient management, insect and pests, diseases, natural farming and overall orchard management.
Additionally, a special talk by Dr. Hiresha Verma, renowned mushroom entrepreneur and CEO of Han Agrocare and Hiressa’s Multiverse was held for the faculty and students. She shared her journey about starting her enterprise with Rs 2000 and how the company has now grown into an enterprise that is expected to record a turnover of over 10 crore. This has earned her the sobriquet of ‘Mushroom Queen of the Himalayas’ and she has also featured among the top 75 women entrepreneurs in the country. Dr. Hiresha has helped over 5000 women in rural areas earn a livelihood through growing medicinal mushrooms. She urged the students to explore entrepreneurship in the agri-horticulture sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Chandel, thanked Dr Hiresha for sharing her entrepreneurial journey with the students and faculty and motivating them to start their own ventures. He urged the students to look around and start novel businesses that solve the problems of the farmers and add value to their produce. All the statutory officers, faculty and students of both colleges attended the session.
