International Journal of Innovative Horticulture

The kiwifruit is a recent crop introduction to horticulture practices of Mid-Himalayan states of India such as, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and J&K in the North-West and Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland in the North-Eastern Himalayas. Over past few years, this fruit has attained immense popularity among consumers due to its nutritional value and has gained appeal among small and marginal farmers owing to its high benefit-cost ratio, particularly through Hi-Tech cultivation techniques.

The kiwifruit, also known as Chinese gooseberry (Actinidia chinensis Planch.) is believed to have originated in China, although it gained popularity in New Zealand. In India, it was first introduced at Lal Bagh garden in Bengaluru around sixties; however, it was soon observed that the fruit could be cultivated well only in the semi-temperate climate of Himachal Pradesh, around 1963. Subsequently, it was broadly introduced in this North-West Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh and also to some extent in Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Now, it is extensively cultivated in the North-Eastern Himalayan states namely; Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and more recently in Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur. The kiwifruit holds great scope for expansion in almost all states of Northeastern region barring Tripura and Assam, owing to their warmer climate. In India, it is cultivated in an area of 5000 ha with the production of 13,000 metric tonnes. Over the past five years, the area under kiwifruit production in Himachal Pradesh has not increased much, but the production has shown a steady increasing trend. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are the major kiwifruit-producing states of the country.

The idea for inter-cropping of kiwifruit with large Cardamom, a widely grown spice crop was conceptualized through the author's field awareness initiatives along with encouragement from the State Departments of Horticulture. Given that large cardamom is a shade-loving plant, this requirement can be met when grown underneath the kiwifruit vines. Due to suitable soil and climatic conditions in the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, it lends great credibility to the beneficial intent of introducing this concept. Eventually, it is hoped to standardize organic farming in this areas as a cultural practice in the suitable regions. This Inter-cropping practice of large cardamom with kiwifruit is greatly gaining importance in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, adding to the farm income of the growing community in these states. This hi-tech also ensures income security in a way that if one crop fails in a season the other would provide necessary sustenance. This model of inter-cropping has lately also been expanded to other kiwifruit producing states. The kiwifruit of North-Eastern area in India has managed to attain its commercial identity at a national as well as international markets in southeastern Asia and Gulf countries. Of late, other states have also begun to prioritize this fruit for area expansion under Horticulture Technology Mission.

Despite suitable climate and soil, the lack of quality planting material, package of practices for organic farming, modern technologies of precision farming and trained manpower have been observed as the major constraints in enhancing the productivity of temperate fruits in general and kiwifruit in particular. Keeping in view these concerns, the ICAR Roving Team for Temperate Fruits recommended the road map for cultivation of temperate fruits in North Eastern Hill Region with main emphasis on kiwifruit. Implementation of modern horticultural practices for growing kiwifruit in the Mid-Himalayan region of the country should benefit its rural economy comprising mainly of small and marginal farmers whose practice of subsistence agriculture is under challenge from changing climate scenario.

As the kiwifruit originated in China on the Northern front of the Eastern Sub-Himalayan ranges, the inherent potential for its commercial cultivation in Indian mid-Himalayan ranges is worth considering by the scientific community and policymakers. The chapter deliberates upon the key technologies developed for increased productivity of kiwifruit along with large other crops.

It is worth mentioning that kiwi is the emerging crop of mid-Himalayan states in general and North-Eastern Sub-Temperate Zones in particular, which are most suitable for horticulture based integrated farming system such as inter-cropping. The high potential for transformation from subsistence farming to sustainable horticulture is discussed here with.