Shimla-Rakesh Dulta, an innovative farmer of Village Sheel, Tehsil Rohru, experimented with an exotic vegetable – snowpeas. It turned out that he obtains productivity of about seven quintals per bigha for snowpeas cultivar Mithi Phali. The market returns of this high-quality produce fetch between Rs 200-300 per kg at Azadpur Vegetable Market, New Delhi.

Enthusiastic with the results of this trial, Dulta is now encouraging fellow farmers for adopting commercial cultivation of snow peas and other exotic vegetables in the region.

This trial was the part of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Shimla efforts to facilitate the cultivation of exotic vegetables at various elevations in the state. The KVK functions under the management of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni.

The logic behind the whole project is that in recent times, there has been a shift in consumer demand which has also affected the horticulture sector. The increasing demand for exotic vegetables in metropolitan cities and tourist hotspots of the country is one such shift.

The agricultural scientists have duly recognized the corresponding shift in the horticultural cropping pattern and need to diversify and efforts have been ongoing in this direction.

One such proactive initiative launched by KVK Shimla has borne fruit with encouraging results for the farmer and scientists.

For the past three years, the scientists of the station have worked on introducing and promoting the cultivation of various exotic vegetables in the district. Exotic vegetables like snowpeas, lettuce, pok choi, kale, courgettes, cherry tomatoes and seedless cucumbers have been introduced and trials at farmer’s fields have been ongoing.

Dr Ashok Thakur, Vegetable Scientist at KVK, Rohru is conducting trials at different elevations in various seasons for selection of suitable production area and planting season of these vegetables. He told that among the several diversification initiatives, the off-season cultivation of snow peas has been successfully demonstrated at one farmer’s field and the results have been highly encouraging.

“Snowpea is valued for its edible pods having various nutraceutical values and are highly cherished as a salad. Lack of parchment layer on the inner wall of pods makes it fit for raw consumption. However, the pods can be cooked as well. Snowpeas are a good source of vitamins A, B6 and C. Besides they are an excellent source of dietary fibre and also contain folate and minerals such as potassium,”

said Dr Thakur.

He said that there are plenty of exotic vegetates that can be successfully grown in mid and high hills and can be a promising intervention for enhancing farmers’ income.

These crops are best suited for intercropping with apple and other fruit crops. Dr NS Kaith, In-charge, KVK Shimla opined that the diversification of apple growing regions with short duration high-value cash crops can become a boon to the economy of the hill state.

Congratulating the scientists on the efforts, Dr Parvinder Kaushal, UHF Vice-Chancellor said that University has been doing continual efforts in diversification of horticulture in the state. He urged the scientists to encourage more and more farmers to adopt such diversification strategies, which will not only reduce dependence on one crop but also supplement farm incomes. Director Research Dr JN Sharma and Director Extension Education Dr Rakesh Gupta also praised the efforts of the scientists.