4 min readShimlaJul 1, 2024 10:03 AM IST
First published on: Jul 1, 2024 at 10:02 AM IST
In the picturesque orchards of Himachal Pradesh, apple growers are making a significant shift from the traditional Low-Density Plantation (LDP) to High-Density Plantation (HDP). This transition, influenced by European practices, particularly from Italy, is reshaping apple production in the region, where 80% of fruit production is apples.
HDP: The new trend
Orchardist Naresh Kashyap from Guthan village near Theog in Shimla highlights the efficiency of HDP. “In traditional orchards, each apple plant requires a distance of 20 to 25 feet, accommodating only 24-25 plants per bigha. With HDP, we can plant approximately 300 apple plants in the same area,” he says. Popular varieties such as Gala, Dark Baron Gala, and Mema Mestar are thriving under HDP, with rootstocks imported from Italy’s renowned nurseries such as Griba, Feno Srl, and Tagliani. “These rootstocks need less care compared to seedlings,” Naresh adds.
Adopting HDP in low elevation areas
Raghuvir Chauhan, an apple grower from Rajgarh in Sirmaur district, shares his experience. “HDP is essential in low elevation areas, especially for farmers with large land holdings. My grandfather started with LDP, but as the old plants completed their life, I shifted to HDP. A successful HDP requires 24×7 water availability, dripping systems, and plant covers,” he explains.
Expert insights
Pankaj Dhanta, Horticulture Development Officer, says HDP is gaining traction in low and middle elevation areas, where apple varieties requiring fewer chill hours, like Gala and Dark Baron Gala, are successful. “Low elevation areas (1500-2700m) such as parts of Shimla, Kangra, and Mandi are adopting HDP. Middle elevation areas (2200-3200m) like Chamba and Kullu are also transitioning. However, high elevation areas still prefer varieties like Delicious Golden and Red Golden,” he says.
Vinay Singh, Director of the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Department, explains the broader adoption of HDP. “Orchardists are turning to HDP as old plantations are dying out. HDP species like Gala start fruiting in 2-3 years, compared to 8-9 years for seedlings. Although HDP covers only 2,500 hectares of 1.15 lakh hectares, it’s crucial for increasing apple production,” he says.
Challenges and quarantine rules
HDP was introduced in Himachal Pradesh in 2012-13 but faced initial failures. Private players entered the scene in 2015-16, leading to some farmer exploitation. Interest in HDP surged in 2019-20, inspired by successful practices in Jammu & Kashmir. However, government quarantine rules, requiring imported plants to be isolated for a year, posed challenges due to low-quality quarantine centers. “Some private players bypass these rules, but we take action and destroy non-quarantined plants,” Vinay Singh says.
A rich diversity of apple varieties
The Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project (HPHDP) records 44 apple species grown in the state, including exotic varieties such as Ambrosia, Gala Venus ‘Fengal’, and Red Fuji, alongside locally developed but less successful varieties. Pankaj Dhanta emphasises, “Most of our apple varieties are exotic, but they have proven more successful than locally developed ones.”
Price pitch
Naresh Kashyap says that the price of a box of apples changes from time to time. “It depends on the demand and supply. Last year, a 27 kg carton of Gala apple which has light reddish color, was sold for Rs 3,600. In retail the price went even higher. The price also fluctuates pertaining to the excessive supply, less supply etc. Price of Delicious Golden, Red Gold Apple is higher than Gala,” he says.
Historical context
The legacy of apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh dates back to 1916, credited to American missionary Samuel Evans Stokes, who introduced high-quality apples in Kotgarh, Shimla.
Naresh Kashyap at his orchard in Guthal Theog, Shimla. (Express photo) 
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