Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo Tabo, Lahaul and Spiti-II(HP)

Senior Scientist & Head
DR RS Spehia

Regional Horticulture Research Sub Station, Tabo was established in 1981 with the prime objective of research on temperate horticulture in the cold desert. Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) sanctioned Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) during the year 2017 and named it Lahaul & Spiti-II at Tabo. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is situated 47 km away from district sub division headquarter Kaza at an elevation of 3243 meter amsl, representing true arid cold temperate climate of North–West Himalayas. The geographical position of the KVK is 32 0  5.15' North latitude and 78 o  23.054' East longitude on the globe. Total land area with the KVK is 10.47 ha and has plantation of temperate fruits such as apple, apricot and pear. Cultivation of vegetables like cauliflower, tomato, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, bean etc. under open and protected structures is also being promoted besides pea. Medicinal plant cultivation is also being promoted. The soil of the KVK is clay to sandy and gravely with pH ranging from 7.5-8.5.

Single Agricultural Season of 6-7 months is available between April-October. The summer is dry and short, while winter is long and freezing. Snowfall usually occurs from November to April. During winters, temperature drops to as low as - 30 o C. Since its establishment, KVK has conducted more than 232 trainings, 45 field days, above 60 FLDs, 36 OFTs besides 950 telephonic advisories (including online Advisories) benefiting more than 6000 farmers. One Food processing unit has also been established for local produce supporting “Vocal for Local” campaign.

Mandate

  • Organization of short and long term training programmes/vocational trainings in horticulture/agriculture and allied fields for the farmers, rural youths and officers of allied departments.
  • Identification of location specific technologies for developing sustainable land use system through conducting ‘On-farm testing’ (OFT) trials.
  • Organisation of ‘Front-line demonstrations’ on these improved and tested farm technologies.
  • Organisation of capacity building and Skill development training programs in collaboration with other departments of Spiti valley.

Strengths

  • Availability of fruit and vegetable nursery for farmers of Spiti valley.
  • Demonstrations on cultivation techniques for apple and apricot varieties suitable for cold arid regions.
  • Demonstrations on vegetable cultivation technologies for on and off seasons.
  • Approachability of scientific staff to remote villages of Spiti valley.
  • Model Food Processing Unit for value addition of local products.
  • Demonstrations on cultivation of local medicinal plants as well as on alpine fodder and grasses.

Research

Thrust Areas

  • Natural Farming practices suitable for Spiti valley
  • Evaluation and standardizing production technologies for apple, prunes and apricot.
  • Evaluation of seed production technologies and varieties of vegetables suitable for dry temperate areas.
  • Protected cultivation of leafy vegetable during winters.
  • Trial on Himalayan medicinal plants, alpine fodder/grasses species.
  • “Skill Upgradation for improved livelihood through Agri- Interventions in Tribal Areas of Himachal Pradesh” Project funded by Agricultural Education Division, ICAR, New Delhi under TSP/STC (Rs.15.5 lakh).
  • “National Mission on Natural Farming” Funded by ICAR.
  • Creation of Irrigation facilities at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo” under RKVY, Govt of HP (Rs.115.70 Lakh)

Extension

Organization of Training Programmes, Front Line Demonstration, On Farm Trials, Off- Farm Trials, Kisan Melas, Telephonic Advisories, Field Visit etc. to farmers of Spiti valley.

In addition to this, KVK also organizes Skill Development Programme (more than 200 hours), Kisan Goshthies, special programmes such as breastfeeding week, National Nutrition Week, Swachhata Abhiyan, Jal Shakti Abhiyan etc. for the awareness of tribal community. During last Seven years KVK Scientists have addressed 900 No’s of farmers queries telephonically and conducted 1554 Field/Diagnostic visits.

Achievements

  • Nursery Production and sale: Every year sound quality apple and vegetable nurseries are maintained and sold to the farmers. In last year 2024-25 about 2645 seedling stock of Apple varieties (Both Spur and Non-spur) were produced and Rs 37380 revenue were generated of by selling vegetable nursery.
  • Natural farming: KVK has taken lead in popularizing natural farming methods for apple/vegetables production in spiti valley for the help of farming community.
  • Model Food Processing Unit:KVK has established new model food processing unit for the local community of Spiti Valley for processing of fruits and other crops. This processing unit will help in adding value to the local produce within Spiti valley and raise the income of local tribal community by reducing their transportation cost.

Awards & Recognitions

Publications

  • ‘Spiti Ghati me matar Ke vibin tariko ka tulnatmak vishleshan’. 2023. Ranjit Singh Spehia, Ankita Dhiman and Bandana Dhiman, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • ‘Thande Registhan mei seb ki fasal mei greeshamkaleen chhatayi ka mahatab’. 2023. Ankita Dhiman and Ranjit Singh Spehia, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • ‘Spiti Ghati ke liye Khumani ki upyukt kisame’. 2023. Ankita Dhiman and Ranjit Singh Spehia, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • ‘Spiti Ghati me paye jane bale aushdiya paudhe avm unka sarankshan’. 2023. Bandana Dhiman and Ranjit Singh Spehia, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • ‘Importance/use/Agrotechnology/post-harvest products for beurr grass - Artemisia brevifolia’. 2024. Bandana Dhiman, B Dutt, S Marpa, Amisha, Y P Sharma, Department of Forest Products, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • ‘Importance/use/Agrotechnology/post-harvest products for Lemon Balm - Melissa officinalis’. 2024. Bandana Dhiman, B Dutt, S Marpa, Amisha, Y P Sharma, Department of Forest Products, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan (H.P).
  • Agriculture in the cold desert of Spiti Valley is difficult, but there are ways to make it easier. 2024. Ranjit Singh Spehia, Inder Dev, Ankita Dhiman, Bandana Dhiman, Rajeshwar Singh Chandel. Down To Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/test/blog
  • “Mitti Parikshan ka Mahatav”. 2021. Upinder Sharma and Sudhir Verma. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • “Prakritik Kheti ka Mahatav”. 2021. Upinder Sharma, Sumit Vashisth and Sudhir Verma. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • “Spiti Ghati me Seb ke Mukhya Kit evam Rog or Unka Ekikrit Prabandhan”. 2021. Sumit Vashisth, Upinder Sharma and Sudhir Verma. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • “Seb se Banane Vale Khadya Padarth”. 2021. Savita Kumari, Meena Kumari and Sudhir Verma. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • “Savasth Podh Utpadan ki Vidhi”. 2021. Nidhish Gautam and Sudhir Verma. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • 2nd volume of KVK magazine entitled “Piti Shingpa” has been published. 2024.

Awards

To Farmers

  • Ms. Cheering Butith received an award on entrepreneurship from ATARI Foundation Day at ATARI, Ludhiana on 11.01.2025.
  • Smt. Yeshe Dolma, Village Lidang, PO Lara, received appreciation for work on natural farming during the Regional Conference on Natural Farming on 29.03.2025.

To Scientists

  • Third Best Oral Award to Bandana Dhiman, R. S. Spehia, and Inder Dev for the paper entitled “Conservation of the Traditional Healthcare System and Sustainable Utilization of Himalayan Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in the Cold Desert Region of Himachal Pradesh” during the National Conference on Indigenous Knowledge System for Sustainable Future: A Roadmap to Viksit Bharat 2027 at COHF Thunag Mandi, held on 13–14 February 2025, organized by Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan.
  • Best Poster Award to R. S. Spehia, Ankita Dhiman, Inder Dev, Sanjeev Chauhan, and R. S. Chandel for the paper “Judicious Use of Natural Farming Inputs through Drip in Apple-Based Natural Farming System in Spiti Valley” during the International Conference on Enabling Sustainable Food Systems through Natural Farming held on 13–14 September 2024, organized jointly by Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, INRAE (France), and The Indian Ecological Society (Himachal Chapter), India.
  • Best Poster Presentation Award and Young Scientist Award to Dr. Nidhish Gautam (Vegetable Science) on the occasion of the 3rd National Conference of Natural Farming, Organic Farming and Chemical Farming in Indian Agriculture – Present Scenario and Way Forward held on 17–19 October 2022 at Hotel Imperial Grand, organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ujjain under Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh).
  • Best Presentation Award to Krishi Vigyan Kendra for the state of Himachal Pradesh (Zone-I) during the Annual Zonal Workshop of KVKs of Zone-I, held at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, U.S. Nagar (Uttarakhand) during August 3–5, 2019.

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