TRAINING CONTENT FOR FRUIT CULTIVATION

SECTOR-AGRICULTURE &ALLIED
SUB SECTOR- AGRICULTURE CROP PRODUCTION
OCCUPATION- FRUIT CROP CULTIVATION IN UNA DISTRICT, MANALI REGION

TRAINING NEED - The Manali hill agriculture mainly consists of extensive fruit plantations.
The Manali administration and the Department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh have come
together to improve the agricultural scenario of the tourism-based area. Manali's agriculture
is mostly dominated by apple orchards maintained with world class standards. Apart from
that orange plantations are also commonly seen in the area.

Skilling and Reskilling in Fruit Cultivation practices will create manpower for a productive fruit
Culture and generate self-employment apart from a skilled workforce; for community
development .

PROGRAM
Program Name- Fruit Cultivator

Program Objective – The Program is aimed at training candidates for the job of a Fruit

Cultivator, in the agriculture and allied sector; and aims to develop competencies thereof.

Training Outcomes

After participating in the program, the trainees will be able to:

• To grow and manage the crop- input requirements, preparation of field, sowing,
propagation of planting material, transplanting, soil testing, application of fertilizers
and nutrients, quality management, integrated pest and disease management,
irrigation management, inter- culture operations, basic farm management
• Maintain the Quality of the produce- time of harvesting, moisture level of the
produce, Proper harvesting technique, post-harvest practices, packing and transport to
the market
• Becomes well versed with Environment Health and safety- in terms of personal
safety and the safety of others
Training Curriculum

1. Introduction
a-Understand the role of the fruit cultivator
b-Understand the scope and cultivation of the region-specific fruits in Una District

2. Prepare Land for Fruit Cultivation

a-Study different types of soil, their structure, texture, composition, soil amendment and
soil nutrient profile.
b-Identify, select and use of tools and equipment for soil preparation
c-Get acquainted with the favourite climatic conditions for the cultivation of fruits
d-Familiarisation with site selection factors, season, seed rate, row spacing, row ratio,
and other sowing and planting activity
e- Undertake soil sampling and testing
f- Understand soil treatment and tillage practices

3. Propagation and Transportation

a-Tools and equipments necessary for nursery plantation
b- Prepare nursery bed
c- Undertake seed treatment
d- Perform propagation technique
e- Practice budding
f- Timing of the nursery to field transplanting
g- Transplanting of saplings

4. Perform Intercultural Operations

a-Understand the importance of mulching
b- Identify materials and their use for mulching
c- Adopt proper mulching technique
d- Identify different weeds affecting the plants
e- Methods of weeding- Manual weeding, mechanised/ chemical spray
f- Practice intercropping with suitable crops
g- Understand the importance of pruning
h- Pruning methods for better quality crops
i-Use of plant growth regulators

5. Nutrient Management in Fruit Crops

a- Get acquainted with the nutrient requirement of cultivated fruits
b- Understand and perform soil testing
c- Understand macro and micro nutrients of the soil
d- Understand the fertilizer dosage for the nutrient enrichment of the soil
e- Understand the method of nitrogen fixation
 f- Soil microorganisms and their role in soil enrichment
g- Use of bio fertilizer / organic manure in the cultivation of fruit crop
h- Quantity of fertilizer to be applied
i- Maintain timing and records of fertilizers

6. Integrated Pest and Disease Management of Fruit Crops

a- Knowledge of pests and diseases of the fruit crops
b- Life Cycle of different insect pests
c- Symptoms of different pests and diseases and precautionary measures for the same
d- Package of practices fir the fruit crop
e- Suitable chemicals used for insect pests and disease infestation
f- Identify, select and place the insect traps at strategic points in the field
g- Perform integrated Pest and Disease Management

7. Irrigation Management for Fruit Crops

a- Understand water requirement of the fruit crop
b- Plan for irrigation system
c- Understand fertigation as and when required
d- Understand root spreading of the citrus plant
e- Understand soil texture, porosity etc
f- Ensure proper water drainage in the field
g- Understand effects of water clogging
h- To know the required moisture level in the field
i- Prepare irrigation schedule
j- Understand irrigation at suitable intervals

8. Harvest and Post-Harvest Management of the Fruit

a- Dos and don’ts of crop harvesting
b- Factors effecting harvesting- crop maturity, moisture content during harvesting, size
of the fruit, colour and time of harvesting
c- Undertake harvesting and proper handling of fruits
d- Physical admixture during harvesting and post harvesting process
e- Normal Shelf life of the fruit
f- Post harvesting management
g- Proper pre cooling of the harvested fruits
h- Grading of harvested fruits
i- Tools and equipments required for the packing of fruits
j- Ensure proper packing of the fruits
k- Ensure proper transportation of the packaged fruits
.
9. Basic Farm Management
a- Estimate cost of production of the fruits
b- Estimate the required investment
c- Undertake different farm management practices- soil testing, selection of crop variety,
crop calendar, crop rotation, intercrops, schedule for fertilizer, pesticide/ chemical
application, irrigation schedule, harvesting schedule,
d- Identify market area and pricing strategy
e- Keep record of investments and expenditures
f- Maintain the crop calendar

10. Assimilating Market Information

a- Understand suitable market platforms
b- Collect relevant market information from reliable sources
c- Decide the right time and place for marketing the produce
d- Analyse the market information

11. Maintain Health and Safety at Workplace

a- Perform general safety rules
b- Knowledge of health hazards at workplace and basic first aid training
c- Identify and study the use of equipment, processing machine and materials
safely and correctly
d- Handling of emergency situations at the workplace during farm operations
Citrus Fruit Grower