Kalasan Nursery Organic Farm and Orchard - SH13

After studying a little on the internet, I realized that the main reason was, that our farmers were not growing apples on rootstock, whereas the rest of the world had shifted to that system, many years ago. We began to mobilize small groups of farmers to adopt rootstocks, but failed. When I shared my thoughts with my wife Rajani, she encouraged me to establish a demonstration apple orchard on clonal root stocks to showcase to apple growers, how these apples are cultivated. That is how we bought land in Kalasan village of Karsog subdivision.

A small positive initiative led to further expansion. We were initially planning to grow only apples but later began to grow cherries, pears, almonds, apricot and plums. Now we are also engaged in production of seasonal and exotic  vegetables. Because  Kalasan Nursery Farm (KNF), was conceptualized as a model, demonstration farm, care has been taken to develop it as an environmentally sustainable farm where all operations are done in harmony with nature. Towards that end we installed  water storage capacity of three lakh litres collected through rain water harvesting system. There are dairy cattle of Indian and foreign breeds, Jamunapari goats and hens which produce fresh organic eggs. Special vermi- compost pits, produce good organic manure and there is a small cold store for apple saplings. We promote modern high density apple farming on rootstocks and organize seminars and workshops for the apple growers.

When we started this venture in 2002, we did not know anything about propagation techniques or how to utilize apple rootstocks. So, we took a  technical consultancy from Winrock International USA, mainly to educate ourselves. The company sent Mr. John M Aselage to assist us. Sadly, that was a time when no one in the government sector was ready to help because they had a negative attitude towards high density apple plantation and use of rootstocks. It would therefore not be wrong to say that we are the pioneers of High Density Apple Farming in Himachal. 

Today, we provide consultancy services of international standards to apple growers in Himachal and Uttarakhand. The sincere efforts of more than 15 years have paid off  and the motive for establishing KNF is slowly getting fulfilled. It is extremely satisfying to see that people have begun to replicate our farm model. Our farm is well-known for adoption of modern and farmer friendly technology that increases quantity and quality of apples.

The credit of this success goes to my wife Rajani and my parents for their support. Now my daughter Vasudha has also joined farm operations after completing her B.Tech in Food Technology. It is through team work that we have made this kind of farming very lucrative and paying, which is serving as a model for the younger generation to learn and adopt.