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Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo Tabo, Lahaul and Spiti-II(HP)

HON'BLE GOVERNOR
Hon'ble Governor HP

Sh. Kavinder Gupta

HON'BLE GOVERNOR HP

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HON'BLE CHIEF MINISTER
Hon'ble Chief Minister HP

Sh. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

HON'BLE CHIEF MINISTER HP

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VICE CHANCELLOR
Vice Chancellor

Dr. Harminder Singh Baweja

HON'BLE VICE CHANCELLOR

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Government of Himachal Pradesh Department of Health License (PDF)

Dr RS Spehia (Senior Scientist & Head)

Dr RS Spehia (Senior Scientist & Head)

Regional Horticulture Research Sub Station, Tabo was established in 1981 with the prime objective of research on temperate horticulture in the cold desert. Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) sanctioned Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) during the year 2017 and named it Lahaul & Spiti-II at Tabo. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is situated 47 km away from district sub division headquarter Kaza at an elevation of 3243 meter amsl, representing true arid cold temperate climate of North–West Himalayas. The geographical position of the KVK is 32 0  5.15' North latitude and 78 o  23.054' East longitude on the globe. Total land area with the KVK is 10.47 ha and has plantation of temperate fruits such as apple, apricot and pear. Cultivation of vegetables like cauliflower, tomato, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, bean etc. under open and protected structures is also being promoted besides pea. Medicinal plant cultivation is also being promoted. The soil of the KVK is clay to sandy and gravely with pH ranging from 7.5-8.5.

Single Agricultural Season of 6-7 months is available between April-October. The summer is dry and short, while winter is long and freezing. Snowfall usually occurs from November to April. During winters, temperature drops to as low as - 30 o C. Since its establishment, KVK has conducted more than 232 trainings, 45 field days, above 60 FLDs, 36 OFTs besides 950 telephonic advisories (including online Advisories) benefiting more than 6000 farmers. One Food processing unit has also been established for local produce supporting “Vocal for Local” campaign.

Mandate

  • Organization of short and long term training programmes/vocational trainings in horticulture/agriculture and allied fields for the farmers, rural youths and officers of allied departments.
  • Identification of location specific technologies for developing sustainable land use system through conducting ‘On-farm testing’ (OFT) trials.
  • Organisation of ‘Front-line demonstrations’ on these improved and tested farm technologies.
  • Organisation of capacity building and Skill development training programs in collaboration with other departments of Spiti valley.

Strengths

  • Established Natural farming techniques for apple and pea in cold deserts
  • Orchard management of fruit crops for cold deserts
  • Connectivity with farmers across Spiti Valley through social media networks.
  • Model food processing unit for value addition of local products of farmers on payment basis
Faculty

Research

Thrust Areas

  • Natural Farming practices suitable for Spiti Valley.
  • Evaluation and standardization of production technologies for apple, prunes, and apricot.
  • Evaluation of vegetable varieties suitable for dry temperate areas.
  • Protected cultivation of leafy vegetables during winter season.
  • Creation of Irrigation Facility at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Lahaul & Spiti-II, Tabo – Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, with an allocation of Rs. 115.16 lakhs.
  • Tomato Nursery Production for Crop Diversification in Lower Elevation of Spiti Valley – Sponsored by the Department of Horticulture, Himachal Pradesh, with an allocation of Rs. 0.19 lakh.
  • National Mission on Natural Farming (2025–27) – Sponsored by ICAR-ATARI with a fund allocation of Rs. 4.782 lakhs.
  • NMNF State Government Project – Sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, with an allocation of Rs. 0.36250 lakhs.
  • Training on Yak Rearing – Sponsored by ICAR-NRC Yak, Dirang, with an allocation of Rs. 11.00 lakhs.
Research activities at KVK Tabo in the cold desert region
Extension training programme at KVK Tabo

Extension

Organization of Training Programmes, Front Line Demonstration, On Farm Trials, Off- Farm Trials, Kisan Melas, Telephonic Advisories, Field Visit etc. to farmers of Spiti valley.

In addition to this, KVK also organizes Skill Development Programme (more than 200 hours), Kisan Goshthies, special programmes such as breastfeeding week, National Nutrition Week, Swachhata Abhiyan, Jal Shakti Abhiyan etc. for the awareness of tribal community. During last Seven years KVK Scientists have addressed 900 No’s of farmers queries telephonically and conducted 1554 Field/Diagnostic visits.

Achievements

  • Nursery Production and Sale: Every year, quality apple and vegetable nursery stock is maintained and sold to farmers. During 2024–25, about 2645 apple seedlings (both spur and non-spur varieties) were produced, and ₹37,380 revenue was generated through the sale of vegetable nursery plants.
  • Natural Farming: KVK has taken the lead in popularizing natural farming methods for apple and vegetable production in Spiti Valley for the benefit of the farming community.
  • Model Food Processing Unit: KVK has established a model food processing unit for the local community of Spiti Valley for processing fruits and other crops. This unit helps add value to local produce within Spiti Valley and increases the income of the local tribal community by reducing transportation costs.

Awards & Recognitions

Publications

  • ‘Spiti Ghati me matar Ke vibin tariko ka tulnatmak vishleshan’. 2023. Ranjit Singh Spehia, Ankita Dhiman and Bandana Dhiman, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • ‘Thande Registhan mei seb ki fasal mei greeshamkaleen chhatayi ka mahatab’. 2023. Ankita Dhiman and Ranjit Singh Spehia, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • ‘Spiti Ghati ke liye Khumani ki upyukt kisame’. 2023. Ankita Dhiman and Ranjit Singh Spehia, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • ‘Spiti Ghati me paye jane bale aushdiya paudhe avm unka sarankshan’. 2023. Bandana Dhiman and Ranjit Singh Spehia, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • ‘Importance/use/Agrotechnology/post-harvest products for beurr grass - Artemisia brevifolia’. 2024. Bandana Dhiman, B Dutt, S Marpa, Amisha, Y P Sharma, Department of Forest Products, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • ‘Importance/use/Agrotechnology/post-harvest products for Lemon Balm - Melissa officinalis’. 2024. Bandana Dhiman, B Dutt, S Marpa, Amisha, Y P Sharma, Department of Forest Products, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan (H.P).
  • Agriculture in the cold desert of Spiti Valley is difficult, but there are ways to make it easier. 2024. Ranjit Singh Spehia, Inder Dev, Ankita Dhiman, Bandana Dhiman, Rajeshwar Singh Chandel. Down To Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/test/blog
  • “Mitti Parikshan ka Mahatav”. 2021. Upinder Sharma and Sudhir Verma. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • “Prakritik Kheti ka Mahatav”. 2021. Upinder Sharma, Sumit Vashisth and Sudhir Verma. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • “Spiti Ghati me Seb ke Mukhya Kit evam Rog or Unka Ekikrit Prabandhan”. 2021. Sumit Vashisth, Upinder Sharma and Sudhir Verma. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • “Seb se Banane Vale Khadya Padarth”. 2021. Savita Kumari, Meena Kumari and Sudhir Verma. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • “Savasth Podh Utpadan ki Vidhi”. 2021. Nidhish Gautam and Sudhir Verma. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan.
  • 2nd volume of KVK magazine entitled “Piti Shingpa” has been published. 2024.

Awards

To Farmers

  • Ms. Cheering Butith received an award on entrepreneurship from ATARI Foundation Day at ATARI, Ludhiana on 11.01.2025.
  • Smt. Yeshe Dolma, Village Lidang, PO Lara, received appreciation for work on natural farming during the Regional Conference on Natural Farming on 29.03.2025.

To Scientists

  • ICAR Performance Excellence Award (2026): Dr. Ranjit Singh Spehia, Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Lahaul & Spiti-II (Tabo), was conferred the prestigious “Performance Excellence Award” on the Foundation Day (January 11, 2026) of the ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Zone-I, Ludhiana.
  • National Crop Icon Awards (2026): Dr. Ranjit Singh Spehia was honored with the “Organic Horticulture Excellence Award” under the Organic Farming Icon category during the 2nd Edition of the MIONP (Make India Organic Natural & Profitable) Crop Icon Awards 2026. The award was presented by Krishi Jagran & Agriculture World in partnership with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Gujarat Natural Farming Science University, Government of Gujarat. The award recognizes outstanding contributions and structural excellence in promoting organic and natural farming methodologies in high-altitude regions.
  • Women Leader in Organic & Natural Farming Award (2026): Ms. Ankita Dhiman, Scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Lahaul & Spiti-II (Tabo), has been honored with the prestigious “Organic & Natural Farming Icon of India Award (MIONP)”. She was recognized in the category of “Women Leader in Organic & Natural Farming Award” by Krishi Jagran for her contributions to the promotion of organic and natural farming.
    • Third Best Oral Award to Bandana Dhiman, R. S. Spehia, and Inder Dev for the paper entitled “Conservation of the Traditional Healthcare System and Sustainable Utilization of Himalayan Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in the Cold Desert Region of Himachal Pradesh” during the National Conference on Indigenous Knowledge System for Sustainable Future: A Roadmap to Viksit Bharat 2027 at COHF Thunag Mandi, held on 13–14 February 2025, organized by Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan.
  • Best Poster Award to R. S. Spehia, Ankita Dhiman, Inder Dev, Sanjeev Chauhan, and R. S. Chandel for the paper “Judicious Use of Natural Farming Inputs through Drip in Apple-Based Natural Farming System in Spiti Valley” during the International Conference on Enabling Sustainable Food Systems through Natural Farming held on 13–14 September 2024, organized jointly by Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, INRAE (France), and The Indian Ecological Society (Himachal Chapter), India.
  • Best Poster Presentation Award and Young Scientist Award to Dr. Nidhish Gautam (Vegetable Science) on the occasion of the 3rd National Conference of Natural Farming, Organic Farming and Chemical Farming in Indian Agriculture – Present Scenario and Way Forward held on 17–19 October 2022 at Hotel Imperial Grand, organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ujjain under Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh).
  • Best Presentation Award to Krishi Vigyan Kendra for the state of Himachal Pradesh (Zone-I) during the Annual Zonal Workshop of KVKs of Zone-I, held at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, U.S. Nagar (Uttarakhand) during August 3–5, 2019.

Facilities & Services

Facilities

  • Processing Facilities: Model Food Processing Unit (FSSAI licensed) for value addition and primary processing of regional fruits.
  • Farm Machinery & Equipment: Equipped with a high-capacity Farm Tractor with trolley and cultivator attachments, Power Tillers, and Power Sprayers to support farm activities and improve farm efficiency.
  • Irrigation & Water Management: Created 500 cubic metre water storage facilities and structured irrigation infrastructure including Sprinkler and Drip Irrigation systems.
  • Farms & Demonstration Blocks: Natural Farming Demonstration Block at KVK Tabo farm along with the PCDO Farm (Progeny-cum-Demonstration Orchard) for standardizing cold-desert fruit production technologies.
  • Protected Cultivation Structures: Polyhouses utilized for raising high-quality fruit and vegetable nurseries and vegetable production. Specially designed Mud Polyhouses (Ladakhi Style) provide enhanced thermal insulation under extreme cold dry temperate conditions, enabling successful vegetable cultivation during winter. An advanced Growth Chamber facility is also available to provide a controlled environment for growing plants.

Services

  • Supply of quality planting material, fruit saplings, and vegetable seedlings.
  • Technical advisory services on horticulture, natural farming, protected cultivation, and pest and disease management.
  • Capacity building through farmer trainings, field days, exposure visits, and awareness programmes.
Facilities and services available at KVK Tabo

Gallery

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