The time has come to throw out those notions of seasonal produce. Or, at least, capsicum or Shimla mirch, that, by its very name, is associated with high altitudes and cold weather. The Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, claims to have developed a technique that will allow capsicum cultivation round the year in naturally ventilated poly houses.Developed after two-year-long field trials, the cost-effective technique also sidesteps the pesticide risk, since threats — pests, insects and other diseases — are reduced to near-zero levels in protected cultivation. Professor and head of the department of vegetables U K Kohli, and assistant scientist Manish Kumar, who spearheaded the project, believe this factor will increase the demand for the crop.For the moment, the academics are looking at increased cultivation of the important cash-crop in the state. ‘‘The new technique will certainly help farmers grow better quality crops,’’ Kohli told The Indian Express. Since the technique also calls for substantially less irrigation, farmers of water scarcity areas of the mid-hills will also be able to tap into it. ‘‘The increased yield and improved quality will also help farmers withstand WTO competition,’’ says a pleased Kohli.The 192-acre polyhouse trial conducted in the university’s experimental fields recorded an average yield of 15-16 quintals in June and July, and 10-12 quintals in November-December-January. This adds up to 75-80 tonnes of production per hectare in June-July and 50-60 tonnes per hectare in the other months.
