TERI to help rejuvenate ageing apple orchards

If an American, Satya Nand Stokes, changed the economy of the state by pioneering apple growing in the fruit bowl of the state - Kotgarh - The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) will help rejuvenate aging orchards in the apple state.

If an American, Satya Nand Stokes, changed the economy of the state by pioneering apple growing in the fruit bowl of the state - Kotgarh - The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) will help rejuvenate aging orchards in the apple state.

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The state's Rs 2,000-crore apple industry has problems aplenty right from replenishing senile apple orchards to obsolete varieties, poor soil management, low density plantation and use of seedling stock.

The institute will now collaborate with the state government to improve the apple orchards in the state and promote organic farming. It carried out an extensive study in collaboration with Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Solan and GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development for biotechnological intervention and for the propagation and improvement of apple rootstocks. It came out with some encouraging finding.

The state government will soon hold a meeting with representatives of TERI and horticulture experts to find out new ways to rejuvenate the senile apple orchards in the state.

Scientist from Teri will make a presentation to the state government on different ways to improve the apple orchards. “TERI has offered help to rejuvenate apple orchards across the state,” chief secretary Sudripta Roy confirmed.

Approximately 42,000 tissue cultured plants were supplied to Supi and Almora in Uttarakhand.
The previous Prem Kumar Dhumal government launched an ambitious Rs 148 crore project to replenish ageing apple orchards.