Himachal Pradesh (Kinnaur), Jan. 11 : Scientists of the Agriculture University of Himachal Pradesh and officials of the Kinnaur District administration have organized several workshops for apple growers and owners to enable them to have a better yield. 

Himachal Pradesh is known for producing some of the finest varieties of apples in the world. The apple orchards, as an industry in the State, are a major foreign revenue earner both in raw (fresh fruits) and processed forms. 

Apple farmers at these camps are being trained at the workshops on pruning the trees, using horticulture manure and using oil paste. 

The State''s 11,000 hectare land in Kinnaur district is under apple cultivation and 95 per cent of the farmers here are into growing and trading apples.

Kinnaur region is inhabited mostly by tribal communities.

According to P. S. Draik, the Deputy Commissioner of Kinnaur District noted, around 15 to 20 such training camps are being held before March in this region.

"For the progressive farmers, who belong to Kinnaur District, we will take them to experts on one to one basis and on the field training will be provided to them. We will organise at least ten to fifteen training camps before March this," said P S Draik, Deputy Commssioner, Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh.

Tribals in the region engaged in apple production say that they have benefited a lot with the training offered to them.

"We have been trained and told on how to recognise the healthy trees and the weak ones. We have also been told about the diseases in the soil and how to cure them. The scientists of the Horticulture Department have also informed us about how to treat the soil of the diseases without actually digging the entire field. They told us that the insecticides will be as effective even when they are applied on the wood which is spread around the field," said Vijayram, a tribal farmer from Kinnaur District. (ANI)