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Bookings for UHF Nauni’s ‘Fruit Plant Sale’ Start on Jan 2, Over 89,000 Plants Available for Sale
Solan-The Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni will hold its annual sale of planting material to the farmers of the state from January 2 onwards. The sale will be strictly conducted on first-come-first serve basis at the university campus.
To facilitate the smooth sale and reduce inconvenience to the farmers during the annual sale university and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kandaghat will be holding a two-phased sale process.
In the first phase starting on January 2, 2020 the university and KVK Kandaghat will hold booking of planting material. The booking will be done at the Seminar Hall of Directorate of Extension Education at the University campus at Nauni from 10 am onwards. The plants will be distributed to the farmers on 3rd and 4th January 2020. A similar process will be followed at KVK Kandaghat.
“To ensure that every farmer gets planting material, we will be limiting the sale to 20 plants (per variety, per person) of new apple varieties and based on availability maximum 10 plants of each stone fruit species to each farmer in the first phase”,
said Dr Parvinder Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor of the university. He added that scientists of the university will also be present during the booking and farmers can also seek their expert advice on various farming issue.
In the second phase, the booking and sale of remaining plants will be organized from 6th January onwards. In addition to the above-mentioned dates, the dates of sale at various Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) and Research Stations of the university will be communicated separately
This year, the total number of plants available for sale at the university is over 89,000. Various varieties of apple, kiwi, pomegranate, apricot, peach, nectarine, cherry, walnut, pecan nut, persimmon, pear, grapes, plum and almond, will be provided to the farmers during this sale. The departments of Fruit Science and Seed Science, and the University’s Model Farm have produced the planting material.
In addition to the above-mentioned plants, the various Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) and Research Stations of the university located in different parts of the state have also produced over 57,000 saplings of fruit plants, which will also be available to the farmers. These include the KVKs at Kandaghat, Sharbo, Rohru, Chamba, Tabo, COH&F Neri and the Regional Horticulture Research and Training Stations at Mashobra and Bajaura. The plants at these stations will be available for sale at different dates.
Owing to its good quality, the planting material provided by the university is always in high demand among the farmers of Himachal and other states. The Regional Horticulture Research and Training Stations at Dhaulakuan and Jacch, and the Horticulture and Forestry College at Neri, Hamirpur, also specialize in producing planting material for litchi, mango, guava and kinnnow fruits. These are provided to the farmers in the summer months.
Solan—In a shocking incident on Monday, an 18-year-old youth, Pravesh, survived a vicious leopard attack in Sarli village of Arki subdivision. The teenager reportedly fought the leopard for nearly 12 minutes before breaking its jaw, killing the animal on the spot.
Quick Thinking Saved His Life
Pravesh told the media that he was walking from the fields to a nearby shop in the morning to fetch milk when the leopard, hidden in the crops, lunged at him. Noticing the leopard’s tail, he attempted to run but fell after a short distance. During the attack, he covered his neck with his hands to protect himself from fatal bites.
The teenager continued to struggle with the leopard, repeatedly attempting to put distance between himself and the predator. In a desperate move, he grabbed the leopard by its mouth, twisted its jaw, and broke it, killing the animal instantly. Pravesh sustained multiple injuries, including deep claw marks, and is currently receiving treatment at Arki Hospital. Police and forest department teams have launched an investigation into the incident.
Serious Allegations of HP Forest Department’s Negligence
One of Pravesh’s relatives accused the forest department of negligence, noting that similar attacks had occurred in the area previously.
Earlier, a leopard had attempted to attack a scooter rider, who managed to escape. The family said they had informed the forest department on March 6 about potential danger, but no concrete action was taken. Villagers waited for three hours for a forest team to arrive, but none came. When the Block Officer eventually visited, he reportedly told villagers to ensure their own safety. Requests for cages to capture the leopard were also denied, with officials asking for written complaints instead.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall across Himachal Pradesh over the next two weeks, with isolated heavy to very heavy showers likely over the low hills, plains, and adjoining mid-hill regions. While the ongoing monsoon remains vital for agriculture, it also brings an elevated risk of localized flooding and landslides.
Week of August 8–14
Maximum temperatures will range from 22°C to 34°C, depending on elevation—22°C to 28°C in high hills, 26°C to 30°C in mid-hills, and up to 34°C in lower regions. Minimum temperatures are expected to remain near normal, between 12°C and 24°C. Cooler conditions may persist in districts like Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti.
Week of August 15–21
Similar rainfall patterns are expected to continue, with scattered heavy rain episodes. Temperature trends will remain stable, though slightly below-normal maximum temperatures are likely in parts of Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Kangra, and Kullu districts.
Outlook for Late August
Rainfall is expected to remain broadly normal, with region-specific variations. Districts such as Kinnaur, Shimla, and Sirmaur may see below-normal precipitation, while Una, Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Solan are likely to receive above-average rainfall. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast to stay close to seasonal norms.
Officials at the Meteorological Centre in Shimla have urged residents and local authorities to remain alert for sudden heavy downpours, which could disrupt road connectivity and trigger landslides—especially along vulnerable hillside routes. Past monsoon episodes have blocked key highways, including routes between Mandi and Kullu and near Banjar, underscoring the ongoing challenges in the region.
This advisory comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to face the dual pressures of sustaining its agriculture-dependent economy while managing the life and infrastructure risks posed by an active monsoon. Continued vigilance and preparedness remain crucial.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –Himachal Pradesh continues to deal with the impacts of the 2025 monsoon season, reporting extensive property damage, loss of lives, and widespread disruptions across the state. According to the official reports from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the Department of Revenue, and the India Meteorological Department, from June 20 to August 6, 2025, heavy monsoon rains caused significant damage across multiple districts:
- Casualties: 199 deaths due to landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, lightning, electrocution, and accidents; 304 injuries reported.
- Property Loss: Extensive damage to houses (both pucca and kaccha), shops, factories, labor sheds, animal shelters, and substantial crop losses in agriculture and horticulture.
- Public Infrastructure: Over ₹1,900 crore in damages to roads (including PWD), power supply, health, education, fisheries, rural and urban development, and animal husbandry.
Most affected districts include Mandi, Kangra, and Hamirpur, with severe crop and infrastructure losses.
Additionally, 91 deaths occurred due to monsoon-related road accidents.
Public Utilities and Infrastructure Disruptions
The SEOC report dated August 7, 2025, highlights ongoing disruptions:
- Roads Blocked: About 493 major roads and 3 national highways (NH-305, NH-21, NH-05) remain blocked by landslides and floods.
- Power Supply: Disruption of 1,120 distribution transformers (DTRs).
- Water Supply: 245 water schemes affected, threatening access to potable water for communities.
Key blockages include NH-21 between Mandi and Kullu and NH-305 near Banjar and Jhed.
Weather Forecast and Warnings
The India Meteorological Department’s forecast valid from August 7, 2025, includes:
- Isolated heavy rainfall expected throughout the week.
- Thunderstorms and lightning predicted in isolated areas.
- Minimum temperatures near normal or slightly below.
- Maximum temperatures showing a moderate increase.
The public is urged to remain vigilant due to the risks of further landslides and flash floods.
Himachal Pradesh remains vulnerable as the monsoon season continues, with thousands affected by damage, displacement, and disruption of essential services. Authorities are continuing with rescue and recovery operations and are urging residents to stay alert to the ongoing adverse weather. This situation highlights the pressing need for enhanced infrastructure and disaster management strategies to mitigate monsoon-related risks.
Himachal’s LPG Supply Hit Amid Global Tensions, Likely to Affect Hospitality Industry
Himachal Teen Survives 12-Minute Leopard Attack, Kills Predator in Self-Defense
Weather Forecast for Himachal Pradesh For the Next Two Weeks
Monsoon 2025: Himachal Pradesh Suffers 199 Casualties, Over ₹1,905.50 Cr in Damages
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