Understanding Apple Varieties India’s apple-growing regions from the mid-hills of Uttarakhand to the high reaches of Himachal and Kashmir are undergoing a quiet but important transformation. Growers are shifting towards high-density planting, clonal rootstocks, and natural farming methods that reduce chemical input, conserve soil health, and ensure long-term orchard viability. We believe informed decisions on […]
Apples, Mountains, and Mudslides: A Journey Through Kinnaur’s Orchards When you think of apples from Himachal, you probably imagine crisp red fruit in crdboard boxes stacked neatly on a truck, heading towards cities like Delhi or Bangalore. But behind every apple that makes its way to your market basket lies a story of resilience, unpredictability,
Natural Blueberries: A Backstory: Kalasan Nursery Farm (KNF) has been actively engaged in a variety of agricultural projects, with one of the noteworthy initiatives being the Blueberry Project. One key challenge which KNF has addressed is that of appropriate Varietal Selection. As there are number of crops for which little or no research is available
Cetara Certificate – 2 Star – Gram Bhawan CETARA – QR – Gram Bhawan The orchard development project at Gram Bhawan, Village Baag, is more than just a farming initiative, it is part of a long-term vision to create thriving, sustainable fruit orchards that bring both environmental and economic benefits to the local community. The
Connecting Producers to Consumers – CETARA-NF No Farmers No Food Know Farmers Know Food You need a farmer at least two or three times a day for food, you need a doctoror a lawyer only once a year (if you are really unlucky)” A farmer and food activist from Himachal Pradesh,
Helping Farmers with Smart Tools – AgriTech Survey on IoT Solution for Smallholders Since the mid-1990s, the internet has connected people across the world. A few years later, the idea of connecting everyday devices to each other started to grow. This idea became what we now call the Internet of Things (IoT). Over time devices
IoT and AgriTech – Primary Field Survey with Smallholders Read More »
Beyond the Perfect Apple: A Natural Farming Success Story from Himachal High up in the remote Spiti Valley, life runs at a different rhythm. The air is thinner, the winters are harder, and farming is more than just a job it’s a way of life. Here, apple orchards cling to steep slopes, their branches stretching
Germination Report Gram Disha Trust (GDT) with the collaboration with Kalasan Nursery Farm has its first round of germination trials as part of a broader effort to establish a community seed bank. This initiative aims to conserve, multiply, and distribute open-pollinated heirloom seeds that are well-suited to the Himalayan agro-climatic zone. Seed Bank will be
Kalasan Nursery’s Eco-Friendly Shift to Biodegradable Grow Bags In the face of climate change and increasing plastic pollution, sustainability in agriculture is no longer optional, it’s essential. At Kalasan Nursery Farm (KNF), we’ve taken a meaningful step forward by introducing biodegradable, breathable cloth grow bags for our plantation and nursery operations. This innovation is a
Wild-Local Species for Insect-Pest Control – 3rd Edition The Himalayan region holds a vast repository of wild flora with untapped potential for agricultural innovation. Among these, Lantana camara known locally as Gandhari, Phulnoo, or Ghaneri is a hardy and highly adaptable plant species growing abundantly in the mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh. This third report, Identification of
