Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry Neri,Hamirpur (HP)


Incharge

The Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry formerly known as the Department of Forestry and Environment established in April 2011 and renamed on 27th August, 2014 has a rich history and an outstanding record of contributions to the profession and community. The Department is well recognized for excellence in teaching, research and extension.

The research funding in mainly through externally funded research projects on agroforestry and silviculture through Government and private agencies, viz., ICAR, DST, NMPB, DBT, HIMCOSTE, RKVY, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Space, Ministry of Environment & Forests, State Department of Agriculture, State Biodiversity Board etc. The department is conducting regular National Symposia/Conferences and Workshops to have discussions related to agroforestry and silviculture to modulate into latest researchable issues of farmers.

The scientists of the department has published more than 160 research papers, 23 book chapters, 9 books, 15 technical bulletins in leading national and international journals, and over 25 popular articles for technology dissemination to farmers and entrepreneurs. M.Sc. programme in Agroforestry under this department was started in the year 2018. So far, three batches have passed out and eighteen students have completed their Master’s degree.

Mandate

  • To develop climate resilient agroforestry systems and to standardize nursery and production techniques of important sub tropical tree species.
  • To train farmers in latest production technologies to uplift their economic standard.
  • To develop competent human resource capable of facing the challenges of the ever evolving highly competitive world.

Strengths

  • Well experienced and dedicated faculty trained in India and abroad. The department has a very cognitive work environment where innovations and expression of ideas are encouraged.
  • Well equipped modern laboratory facilities for with latest analysis techniques and technologies along with a dedicated experimental farm, with Harar, Aonla based agroforestry systems.
  • The department has well established nursery unit for production of rare nursery stock of newly developed Harar strains, Chandan, Soapnut, Lasoora, Bahera and Aonla etc.

Academics

The Department offers following undergraduate courses and offer degrees at M.Sc. and Ph.D. level.
  • Our alumni are serving in various capacities in National and International Research Institutions, Central and State universities, State Governments, Private Companies, National and Private banks etc. senior and middle level executive positions.
  • Naincy Sagar (2014-18) bagged a fellowship (INR 70 Lakh) to pursue Ph.D in Forest Genetics at the University of Orleans, under France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment.
  • More than 30 students have qualified JRF entrance exam in Forestry and sought admission in prestigious institutes of higher learning like Forest Research Institute Dehradun, NIAM Jaipur, Banaras Hindu University Banaras etc.

Forestry Day 2023

Research

Thrust Areas

  • Standardization of mass multiplication of potential bio-control agentsand botanical pesticides for developing integrated disease management strategies against important diseases.
  • Diagnostic survey of existing agroforestry systems in Himachal Pradesh with special reference to sub-tropical zone, identification of gaps and remedial measures.
  • Development of climate resilient food and fodder based agroforestry systems suitable for dry land and monkeys/stray animal affected areas.
  • To standardize the cultivation practices for techniques for economical tree species like Harar, Bahera, Aonla, Reetha, Chandan, Lasoora etc.
  • Conversion of Lantana infested areas into Chandan based land use system
  • Climate resilient harar strain identified which performs well under high temperature and very low humidity.
  • Identified existing agroforestry systems in the subtropical regions of Himachal Pradesh namely Bangana, Nadaun, Barsar, Jogindernagar and Sujanpur.
  • Complete nursery and production technologies have been standardized for harar and soapnut and chandan cultivation.
  • Ficus carica has been identified as a root stock for raising true to type Ficus roxburghii, a dwindling important minor fruit and fodder tree species.
  • Survey, Selection, Phyto-chemical Evaluation, Cytogenetical Characterization and Multilocation Testing of Harar (Terminalia chebula Retz.) in India funded by National Medicinal Plant Board, GOI, New Delhi (₹ 60.18 lakh; 2021-2024).
  • Exploring Pharmacologically Important Secondary Metabolites from Endophytes Associated with Viola odorata- An Endemic Plant Species funded National Medicinal Plant Board, GOI, New Delhi (₹ 33.26 lakh; 2021 – 2024).
  • Development of Multiplex-PCR Based Method for Detection of Important Soil Borne Fungal Pathogens of Sandalwood and Their Management funded by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under Forest Biotechnology (₹ 38.43 lakh; 2022- 2025).
  • Evaluation of existing agroforestry systems and development of environmental resilient agroforestry models (Internally funded).

Forestry Day 2023

State Innovation Award

Extension

To disseminate the latest nursery and production technologies of important forest trees to the line departments and farmers.

  • Grafted/budded plants of Harar have been supplied to the farmers of Himachal and other States and departments of Forest, Agriculture, Horticulture, District Rural Development Agency besides other organizations like CSKHPKV Palampur, PAU Ludhiana, ICFRE Dehradun, SKUAST Jammu, NAU, Navsari (Gujarat), EU Baru Sahib, CAU for North-East, Haryana State Forest Department, WIMCO etc.
  • About 213 ha area covered under budded/grafted plants of the newly developed strains of Harar, Bahera, Aonla and Soap nut in six districts namely; Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Una and Sirmour of Himachal Pradesh.
  • Thirty one thousand eight hundred and ninety three (31893) number of quality plants have been planted on private lands of 418 farmers besides Government/Community lands at 29 locations in the state under the ad-hoc project.
  • Trained forest officials & farmers in grafting/budding techniques of harar, bahera, aonla, reetha etc
  • Organized several workshops including workshop on Modern Nursery Production Techniques of Medicinal Trees at Drophen Men-Tsee-Khang, Chauntra in collaboration Drophen Men-Tsee-Khang Institute, Dharamshala.
  • The scientists have delivered more than 56 Radio/Television talks focussing on management of commercial forestry crops being grown by the farmers in the State.

    • Awards/Recognitions

    • Dr Kamal Sharma, recipient of FAO/UNDP Senior fellowship, and German Academic Exchange Service Fellowship, Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst and German Academic Exchange Service Post Doc. Fellowship, Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD), Germany and State Innovation Award, Government of HP, Champion of Change Award for Excellence in the Field of Environment, Jagran Prakashan Group, New Delhi and Certificate of Appreciation by His Excellency, the Governor of HP on 34th Foundation Day of the University in recognition of outstanding contribution to the at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, and Best poster award in National Symposium on Agroforestry organized by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab).
    • Dr K S Pant recipient of UNDP Senior fellowship, received Best poster presentation award in 3 days National Symposium held at Dr. YSPUHF, Nauni Solan, awarded fellow of Society of Tropical Agriculture in the 9th international conference on Agricultuture, Horticulture and Plant Sciences, held at Dharamshala, received Best Teacher Award in 5th National Youth Convention in “Next Generation Agri Innovation: Challenges and Opportunity for sustainable employment generation in Agriculture and allied sector” jointly organized by IGKV, Raipur, AIASA and ICAR at Raipur.
    • Dr Yashasvi Thakur recipient of DST INSPIRE fellowship awarded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Mons. P. Jeannert Memorial Scholarship awarded by Panjab University Chandigarh and University Gold Medal for standing first in M.Sc. Environment Science in Punjab University awarded by Panjab University Chandigarh.

    Facilities

    • Experimental farm at Khagal farm, Neri II
    • Silviculture and Agroforestry laboratory
    • Silviculture and Agroforestry field laboratory at Khagal farm, Neri II
    • Agroforestry Models
    • Forest Tree Plantations
    • Nursery unit of important forest plants