Achievement:
Research Nurseries were established at Sisoo (Lahaul) and at Tabo (Spiti) for raising Quality Planting Stock of various imported clones (14) arranged from Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan; Salix sp as collected from Department of Forestry, Share Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar and six provenances of Salix as collected from within the state of Himachal Pradesh including areas falling in Kinnaur and Spiti. Screening of clones, species and provenances of Willow was carried out keeping in view their height- growth performance and their resistance towards insect-pest incidences with special reference to Aphid attack. Salix coerulea was the best performer as far as height growth was concerned whereas UWU-2 was the front runner amongst the introduced clones. Field Demonstration Plantations were established both in Forest Lands (Sisoo), Community Land (Khangsar) and also in Farmer’s Fields of course, in close liaison with all these stakeholders.