Group picture of Kiwi Pruning Training to Tenzingang Farmers.

Tenzingang: Tenzingang Tibetan Settlement Office conducted a hands-on learning of Kiwi Pruning for interested farmers on 11 January 2024.

The practical session was arranged by Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO) Kelsang Wangmo at the AEO demo Farm and was attended by the training’s resource person, Tenzin Chodup; Tibetan Settlement Officer Rapten Tsering; and 27 farmers.

Given the promising prospects of Kiwi cultivation in the settlement, Settlement Officer Rapten Tsering, in his address for the session, urged farmers to participate actively during the training to acquire more insight.

Meanwhile, Tenzin Chodup shed light on Kiwi Pruning in his talk. According to him, “High-quality fruiting and good production depend upon timely pruning for kiwi farming. Selection of healthy saplings is a top priority, and plants have to grow straight to the Trellis. From the beginning of planting, there needs to be two main branches kept on the Trellis, then ten side branches for better and easier pruning in the long term.”

Six varieties of Kiwi, namely Hayward, Abbot, Allison, Bruno, Monty and Tamori, have been planted in the area. Tamori is a male Kiwi plant that needs to be planted for cross-pollination. One Tamori should be planted for eight female kiwi plants. Pruning is done twice a year, one in winter and the other in summer. Winter pruning starts from December to mid-February, and summer pruning in the month of June.

The practical Kiwi pruning training was organised by the Tenzingang Tibetan Settlement Office and funded by USAID and the Tibet Fund through the Department of Home, CTA Dharamshala.

-Report filed by TSO, Tenzingang

Resource person Tenzin Chodup giving training on Kiwi Pruning Training to Tenzingang Farmers.

Resource person Tenzin Chodup explaining Kiwi pruning.

Tenzin Chodup giving training on four years old kiwi Plant.