02 September 2026: A media delegation from West Bengal led by Press Information Bureau (PIB), Kolkata, visited the Hill Agricultural Research & Extension Centre (HAREC) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kukumseri in Lahaul, a constituent centre of CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSK HPKV), Palampur.
The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to gain insights on agricultural research, agro-biodiversity conservation and extension activities being undertaken in the high hills of Himachal Pradesh.
Scientists Dr. Subhash Kumar and Dr. Neha Sharma briefed the delegation on the research centre's mandate and ongoing research programmes, including initiatives aimed at sustainable agriculture and livelihood improvement. Located at an elevation of 2,672 metres above the mean sea level, HAREC & KVK Kukumseri falls under Zone IV, the High Hills Dry Temperate Zone of Himachal Pradesh.
The centre has around six hectares of cultivable land, where research and demonstration activities are undertaken along with apple orchards, sea buckthorn plantations and experimental projects suited to region's cold and dry temperate conditions. The centre also implements programmes under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) and undertakes farmer-oriented extension activities through KVK.
A major research initiative at the centre is the Consortium Research Platform on Agro-Biodiversity on Rajmash (CRP-AB Rajmash), a multi-institutional programme of ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR). Nearly 4,000 Rajmash germplasm accessions are being characterized and evaluated for diverse agro-morphological and other important traits.
Additionally, the centre is undertaking breeding, pathology and entomology trials in Rajmash under the All India Coordinated Research Project on MULLaRP (AICRP-MULLaRP). Its collection of local Rajmash landraces represents valuable indigenous genetic diversity of the high-altitude region.
HAREC & KVK Kukumseri is also associated with the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) programme of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). An Agrometeorological Field Unit (AMFU) at the station provides weather-based advisories to farmers, supporting timely decisions on sowing, irrigation, plant protection, harvesting and other farm operations.
The media delegation from Kolkata interacted with scientists and technical staff and observed research experiments, crop demonstrations, germplasm evaluation activities and plantations. The visit highlighted the contribution of HAREC & KVK Kukumseri towards conservation of agricultural biodiversity, crop improvement, climate-resilient agriculture and dissemination of scientific technologies to farmers in the high hills.
The visit also underscored the importance of strengthening research and extension services in remote and challenging agro-climatic regions for sustainable agricultural development and conservation of the rich traditional crop diversity of the Himalayan region.
(PIB)
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