Latest news with #YSParmar
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Himachal withdraws ads for VCs in farm varsities
The Himachal Pradesh government has formally withdrawn two advertisements issued for the selection of Vice-Chancellors at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (Nauni, Solan) and CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (Palampur), declaring any action taken under them 'null and void.' The Himachal Pradesh government has formally withdrawn two advertisements issued for the selection of Vice-Chancellors at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (Nauni, Solan) and CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (Palampur), declaring any action taken under them 'null and void.' (Getty Images/iStockphoto / Representational image) According to a notification issued by the Agriculture Department, the advertisements — published on July 21, 2025, by the Secretary to the Governor's office — were found to be inconsistent with provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986, as well as lacking approval from the competent authority. The matter arose after the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (Amendment) Bill, 2023, passed by the Legislative Assembly in September last year, was returned by the Governor with observations. The Cabinet, in its meeting on July 29, 2025, decided that the selection process should be deferred until the Bill is reconsidered in the upcoming Assembly session scheduled from August 18 to September 2. The notification cites the opinion of the Advocate General, who stated that the Secretary to the Governor was not empowered under the University Act to issue such advertisements, which should instead come from the Registrar of the university or the Secretary of the concerned administrative department. He further pointed out that the advertisement's eligibility criteria excluded several equivalent senior ranks in the universities, and that the selection process should be restarted after the enactment of the new law. The Agriculture Department has communicated its decision to the Governor's Secretariat, clarifying that the advertisements stand withdrawn, and any proceedings initiated under them will not be valid.
News18
31-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Himachals Smriti Samaroh Samiti demands Bharat Ratna for first CM Dr YS Parmar
Shimla, Jul 31 (PTI) Forty-four years after his demise, Himachal Pradesh's Smriti Samaroh Samiti has called for India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, to be posthumously conferred upon the state's first Chief Minister, Dr YS Parmar. On Wednesday, members of the Samiti met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania. They handed over letters requesting the adoption of a resolution to send to the Central government for the posthumous conferment of the Bharat Ratna. Rakesh Pant, a member of the Samiti and former president of the Solan Municipal Council, said that it would be a fitting tribute to Dr Parmar's memory for his sacrifices, struggles, and contributions to shaping Himachal Pradesh. view comments First Published: July 31, 2025, 18:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Mint
Missing snow, too much rain: Himachal's apple crop feels the squeeze
New Delhi: A missing winter and a punishing monsoon are biting into India's beloved apples. In Himachal Pradesh—India's second-largest apple producer after Jammu & Kashmir—an unusual combination of low snowfall, erratic rains, and fungal infections is threatening this year's harvest. With early arrivals already thin in local mandis, retail prices are holding firm and could stay elevated until the larger Kashmir crop arrives in September. The expected shortfall in Himachal's apple crop could be anywhere between 5-10% compared to last year, according to growers. The fall in production is significant: farmer margins may be squeezed due to reduced output and potentially higher per-unit input costs. Consumers, on the other hand, could face prolonged high prices due to a supply-demand gap. At present, Himachal apples are retailing at ₹50–250 per kg depending on variety and quality. The upper end of the price band may ease once the harvest peaks later in the season. A smaller harvest looms in Himachal Apple production in Himachal, which accounts for 37% of India's output, is expected to fall below last year's levels, according to state officials and scientists. 'This season, as per the preliminary estimates the apple production in the state would be lower than the last year. The lack of snowfall in winters is one of the major reasons behind decline in yield," said a scientist from Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni in Solan district. He added that torrential rains have further damaged the crop in some areas, where orchards were hit by Alternaria—a fungal infection that causes premature fruit drop and may lead to yield losses. The extent of damage is still being assessed. The university has been tasked by the Himachal Pradesh government to assess the damage caused by the fungal infection. Alternaria leaf spot, also known as Alternaria blotch, primarily damages the leaves of apple trees, leading to premature defoliation and fruit loss, the scientist said. A warmer-than-usual winter with little or no snowfall disrupted the growth cycle in many orchards. Snow is essential for replenishing soil moisture and suppressing pests and pathogens. This year, its absence triggered early bud break and flowering, resulting in poor fruit setting, weaker quality and lower yield. According to Himachal's horticulture department, total apple production in 2024-25 stood at 502,000 tonnes. This year's output was initially estimated at 630,000 tonnes as of 5 July, based on preliminary field data. However, a senior official in the department told Mint that recent reports of monsoon damage and fungal infections could drag the final figure below last year's levels. 'This is our preliminary estimates and the final production data will be compiled after the completion of harvest season in October. However, going by the reports in the last 10 days, it seems that it would be lower than the last year as monsoon rains and fungal attacks has damaged the crop," the official said. Market headwinds rise The early crop has started to enter a few mandis, but in smaller volumes than usual. "The prices likely to be firm as we are anticipating lesser production this year as compared to last year. The crop has just started coming in few of the mandis in lesser volume. It all depends on how the season progresses and on imports. We anticipate that there will be lesser imports from Turkey this year amid people resentment against Turkey growing," said Harish Chauhan, an apple grower and the convener of the Kisan Sanyukt Manch. Public resentment against Turkey has grown in India following Operation Sindoor, with calls to boycott Turkish apples due to Turkey's perceived support for Pakistan. The backlash is being driven by both public sentiment and concerns from local growers over cheaper imports. In 2023-24, India imported 160,000 tonnes of apples from Turkey. Imports have also been rising from Iran and the US. For 2024–25, India's total apple production is estimated at 2.55 million tonnes, a 6% increase from the previous year. On the export front, India shipped 22,338 tonnes of fresh apples in 2023. Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan are the key markets, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. Apple farming has long been the economic backbone of Himachal Pradesh. The fruit accounts for 80% of the state's horticultural output, with around 200,000 of its 615,000 hectares of cultivated land under fruit orchards—more than half of which is devoted to apples. The size of Himachal apple Industry is around ₹5000 crore. But growers have faced growing headwinds in recent years. Unpredictable weather, ageing and low-yield orchards, traditional cultivation methods, and poor irrigation infrastructure have all hurt productivity. Meanwhile, changing consumer preferences—driven by a growing appetite for imported apple varieties—have made it harder for smallholders to stay profitable, locking many into repeated cycles of loss.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Himachal CM directs scientific investigation into mysterious apple disease
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday directed immediate scientific investigation into the outbreak of mysterious apple disease, causing significant damage to crop. Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (File) A delegation of apple growers called on CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday and apprised him of a new disease. The disease was causing apple leaves to turn yellow and fall prematurely, leading to sharp decline in yield. The delegation urged the CM to take prompt action to investigate and control this issue. Taking cognisance, CM directed the vice-chancellor of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, to dispatch the University's expert teams to the affected areas immediately. He instructed that the disease be scientifically investigated and that orchardists be educated on preventive and control measures on the ground. Sukhu emphasised that the disease was spreading rapidly and causing financial losses to the growers and it was imperative to address the situation swiftly. He asked the VC to submit a detailed report to the state government within seven days so that the appropriate measures could be taken at the earliest. BJP's promise of raising Minimum Import Price (MIP) was misleading Kuldeep Singh Rathore, AICC spokesperson and Congress MLA from Theog, speaking on the apple growers' crisis, said, 'The BJP leaders are talking about raising the MIP, but it seems like a hollow promise. We fear that import duties might be reduced instead. Any agreement like this must be bilateral, not one-sided. We have strongly presented our case. I thank all leaders working sincerely, including Anurag Thakur, who wrote to the Union minister,' he said. 'This is not about Congress or BJP. All MPs should stand united to protect ₹5,000 crore Himachal's apple economy, which is facing a crisis,' he said. Nauni varsity scientists to visit apple orchards in Shimla district on July 9, 10 Experts from Nauni agricultural university will be conducting field visits and awareness campaigns across several areas of Shimla district on July 9 and 10. The initiative aims to alert farmers about prevalent diseases in apple and other stone fruits—particularly Alternaria leaf spot/blight and other foliar diseases. Each team will include a plant pathologist, entomologist, fruit scientist along with other experts. They will carry out on-ground assessments of pest and disease conditions in apple orchards and provide scientific recommendations to growers. A detailed advisory for orchardists will be issued after analysing the observations and findings from the visits.
