The Himachal Pradesh government announced the launch of the High Value Nut Mission from 2026 to 2031. This mission aims to promote the cultivation of high-value temperate nut crops like walnut, almond, apricot, and pine nut (chilgoza). It is designed to boost farmers’ incomes and enhance the cultivation of these valuable crops.
The mission targets key challenges faced by the horticulture sector, including issues like ageing orchards, low productivity, inadequate post-harvest infrastructure, and limited value-addition opportunities. It seeks to establish a sustainable horticultural ecosystem through scientific orchard management, modern infrastructure, and improved market access.
Under this initiative, approximately 1,000 hectares will undergo orchard rejuvenation and high-density plantation. This includes rejuvenating 900 hectares of old orchards through scientific interventions and developing 100 hectares as model high-density plantations with modern technologies.
To ensure the availability of quality planting material, the government plans to set up four hi-tech nurseries and two Centres of Excellence in major nut-growing regions. These institutions will also provide research, training, and extension services to help growers adopt advanced orchard management practices.
The mission also aims to establish modern collection, grading, sorting, packaging, processing, and value-addition units to strengthen the value chain and enhance market competitiveness. It will promote Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), encourage private investment through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, and facilitate access to institutional finance for growers.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu expressed that the High Value Nut Mission will bring growth, diversification, and modernization to Himachal Pradesh’s horticulture sector. He highlighted the state’s potential for temperate nut crops and how this mission, with modern technology and infrastructure, would increase productivity, profitability, and create new job opportunities for rural youth, thereby boosting the rural economy.
