Introduction
Wheat is the most important cereal crop of Himachal Pradesh and is sown in Lahaul & Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi and Bharmour areas of Chamba district, where it is cultivated in summer (April-May to September-October). During 1997-98, the area under wheat in the State was 360 thousand hectares and production was 540 thousand tonnes The main reasons for the low productivity are barani cultivation in about 85% of the total area, less area under good quality seed, low application of fertilizers and other inputs, high incidence of diseases (rusts and loose smut) and high infestation of weeds. |