ISHS Acta Horticulturae 596: VIII International Symposium on Pear
THE PEAR INDUSTRY OF HIMACHAL PRADESH IN INDIA |
| Authors: | N. Sharma, D.R. Gautam, K.K. Jindal, D.P. Sharma |
| Keywords: | Pyrus spp., production, trade, India |
| Abstract:
Pears of Asian origin have existed in Himalayan regions of India from the time immemorial, but the European types were introduced by European settlers in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh in the 19th century. Although Himachal Pradesh provides congenial climatic conditions for growing a wide range of pears, its cultivation remained limited, largely due to the lack of transport facilities and suitable commercial cultivars. Pears were grown in a semiwild state and the production was used for local consumptions. During the mid-20th century pear culture gradually picked up and momentum increased with the setting up of the National Hortorium in 1961 at Kotkhai in Shimla district, where 56 pear cultivars were introduced from various sources, evaluated, and classified according to time of fruit maturity and color development. With this successful introduction of germplasm and the incorporation of production technology provided by various research stations, Himachal Pradesh made long strides in terms of area and production. Today, Himachal Pradesh has taken a lead in India, having a pear cultivated area of about 7,470 ha which is next to apple and plum among temperate fruits. Sizable plantations are still at non-bearing stage, total production is around 10,000 tonnes. | |
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