Himachal Pradesh Gets First Horticulture Monorail in Sundernagar Himachal Pradesh has launched its first horticulture monorail in Palohta village of Sundernagar sub-division in Mandi district. Built at a cost of 25 lakh rupees as a pilot project, the 300-meter track aims to benefit 85 local farmers. Himachal Pradesh has officially introduced its first horticulture monorail in Palohta village, located within the Sundernagar sub-division of Mandi district. Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi inaugurated the 300-meter monorail project on Thursday, October 22, which has been constructed at an estimated cost of 25 lakh rupees. Designed primarily as a pilot initiative, this transport system aims to assist local farmers and orchard owners in navigating difficult terrain, enabling them to transport harvested fruits and essential farming supplies much more efficiently across sloping landscapes. Boosting Horticulture Through Modern Technology The Palohta cluster spans an area of 28 hectares and is dedicated to the production of persimmon fruits. During a previous visit, Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi recognized the logistical challenges of the area and directed officials to develop a monorail system. Under the HP Shiva project, approximately 1100 crore rupees are being allocated across seven districts in lower Himachal Pradesh, covering around 6,000 hectares of land. This comprehensive initiative includes 1,000 hectares in Mandi district alone. The minister noted that if this monorail project proves successful, similar systems will be implemented in other horticultural clusters throughout the state to ease the daily burdens of farmers. Cultivation Scale and Beneficiary Details Efforts are currently underway to complete horticulture development across roughly 1,000 hectares in Mandi district, with planting targets set to be finalized by February. Specifically, the Palohta-II cluster encompasses 28.44 hectares optimized for the commercial cultivation of the Fuyu variety of persimmon. A total of 13,386 saplings have been planted within this cluster, directly benefiting 85 local farmers, which includes 73 male and 12 female growers. Department officials are closely monitoring the growth and management of these crops to ensure maximum agricultural output. Enhancing Efficiency and Lowering Labor Costs Jagat Singh Negi pointed out that similar advanced technologies are widely utilized in foreign agricultural sectors to streamline operations. The newly installed monorail functions as a pilot project, and its long-term viability will be evaluated based on operational outcomes. If deemed effective, the infrastructure will be expanded to other regional clusters. By utilizing the monorail, farmers can effortlessly transport fertilizers, compost, and other heavy materials directly to various sections of their orchards. Furthermore, once the persimmon fruits are ready for harvest, moving them out of the orchards for distribution will become significantly faster, saving considerable time and reducing physical strain on the workers. Comprehensive Infrastructure Investment Approximately 1.65 crore rupees have been invested in various infrastructural developments within the Palohta-II cluster to foster agricultural growth. This total expenditure includes about 32 lakh rupees allocated for land development, 46.55 lakh rupees for solar-powered fencing, and roughly 85.94 lakh rupees dedicated to setting up a drip irrigation system. Additionally, essential farming inputs have been distributed to the community. Expenses within the cluster include 1,03,999 rupees for 61 quintals of neem cake, 14,46,432 rupees for mulch sheets, and 24,000 rupees for eight secateurs used for pruning. Furthermore, 20,59,544 rupees were spent on Fuyu persimmon plants, while 5,32,180 rupees were utilized under the MGNREGA scheme. With these facilities now operational, farmers will require less manual labor for cargo transport, ensuring their harvests reach roadways safely. What this means for you The introduction of the horticulture monorail will significantly reduce transportation costs and labor for local orchard owners. • Across India: The success of this pilot project could pave the way for similar agricultural transport innovations in hilly regions nationwide. • In Sundernagar: The 85 farmers in the Palohta cluster will no longer have to rely heavily on manual labor to carry heavy equipment and harvests across steep slopes. • Resource Protection: Investments in drip irrigation and solar fencing will better protect crops and optimize water usage for higher yields. • Farmer Empowerment: The local growers, including 12 female farmers, will save substantial time and physical effort in bringing their produce to market roads. • Project Expansion: Completing the planting targets by February will provide a structured and commercial boost to horticulture in Mandi district. Why this happened The monorail project was initiated to address severe logistical challenges associated with transporting heavy farming materials and harvests across steep, sloping terrain. • Geographical Demands: The rugged and sloped topography of Palohta village made it impractical for standard vehicles to operate inside the orchards. • Global Inspiration: Inspired by the successful deployment of similar transport technologies in foreign agricultural sectors, authorities decided to test the method locally. • Ministerial Directives: Following a field visit by Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi, the urgent need for a mechanized transport system led to the immediate authorization of the project. • Funding Allocation: Substantial financial resources were made available under the HP Shiva project to accelerate horticultural infrastructure development across lower Himachal Pradesh. Questions & Answers 1. Where has Himachal Pradesh's first horticulture monorail been launched? The monorail has been launched in Palohta village within the Sundernagar sub-division of Mandi district. 2. What is the total cost of the monorail project? The 300-meter pilot project was constructed at a total cost of 25 lakh rupees. 3. Who inaugurated the new monorail system? Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi officially inaugurated the project on Thursday, October 22. 4. How many farmers will benefit from this monorail? A total of 85 farmers in the Palohta cluster, comprising 73 men and 12 women, will benefit from the installation. 5. Which fruit is primarily cultivated in the Palohta cluster? The cluster is dedicated to the commercial cultivation of the Fuyu variety of persimmon fruit. https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/himachal-pradesh-gets-first-horticulture-monorail-in-sundernagar-50538 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.