UHF Nauni Imparts Modern Horticulture Skills to Nepalese Officials

October 14, 2026

Solan: Forty-nine officials from seven provinces of Nepal are undergoing a training programme on the scientific cultivation and management of highland apple and walnut crops at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni.

The programme aims to strengthen the technical capacity of the participating officials and promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences in temperate fruit cultivation. The training is expected to equip the participants with scientific knowledge and practical skills that they can further disseminate among farmers and horticultural stakeholders in their respective provinces.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Dharam Paul Sharma, Director of Extension Education, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of sharing scientific horticultural knowledge and technologies. He expressed hope that the officials would utilise the knowledge gained during the training to create awareness among farmers and other stakeholders in Nepal. He also emphasised that the trainees could serve as resource persons in their respective regions and disseminate the technologies and practices learned at the University.

The training provides comprehensive theoretical and practical exposure to various aspects of apple and walnut production. Key topics include the scope and importance of temperate fruit crops, nursery production techniques, irrigation and water management, high-density plantation systems, rootstock selection, modern propagation methods, managed pollination, integrated nutrient management, insect-pest and disease management, post-harvest handling, and value addition.

Coordinated by Dr. Ajay Sharma and Dr. Meena Kumari, the programme includes practical visits to the University’s high-density apple orchards, kiwi fields, walnut blocks, nursery, apiary and fruit processing unit. The participants are also visiting the soil and leaf analysis laboratory and the pesticide residue laboratory. These visits provide hands-on exposure to modern fruit production techniques, nursery management, soil and plant nutrient analysis, pesticide residue monitoring and other scientific practices related to temperate fruit cultivation.

As part of the programme, exposure visits to RHRTS Mashobra and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kandaghat, will also be organised. These visits provide participants with opportunities to observe field-level technologies and interact with experts and farmers, helping them understand the practical application of modern horticultural practices.

Through this initiative, UHF Nauni continues to promote scientific knowledge exchange and capacity building in horticulture, contributing to the adoption of improved fruit production technologies beyond national boundaries.