Summary:
This year, Leh-based Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (Dihar), a DRDO’s constituent laboratory, has bought 6,070 plants of apple, pear plum and peach. Shimla: Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is growing the temperate plants of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, in high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir. “Varietal trials at different altitudes and studies like zero energy cold storage cellar at DIHAR have also helped to maximize the survivability of these fruit plants,” he said. Some plants are also distributed to farmers in these areas to improve their socio-economic conditions as the excess fruit produce can be sold at the Army counters.“Traditionally, there were very few fruit trees in these high altitude regions. Scientists of Dihar and UHF have also published joint research publications, he added..