Chamba farmers call for the promotion of Chilgoza cultivation

Farmers in the Pangi and Bharmour forest ranges of Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, are celebrating a modest chilgoza (pine nut) harvest of nearly 8 quintals. Despite the limited yield, farmers, who hold ancestral rights to forest settlements, are urging the Himachal Pradesh government to actively promote the cultivation of pine trees that yield nuts in the upper hills.
The demand for chilgoza, particularly among the elite classes, has prompted farmers to seek increased cultivation. Neel Chand Thakur, a resident of Dharwas in the Pangi forest division, reported a yield of approximately 5 to 6 quintals this year. Traders from Chamba and Amritsar visited their village to purchase the harvest.
The traditional chilgoza harvesting process involves communal efforts in September to decide on a day between October 20 to 25 for venturing into the forest to harvest cones. These cones are then gathered and deshelled, and the nuts are extracted. Traders arrive in November and early December to purchase the chilgoza produce.
Pine nuts are highly valued for their rich flavour and nutritional content, commanding significant demand from the elite class. They are sold at prices ranging from Rs 2500 to Rs 6500 per kg, based on the grading and quality of the nuts.Uttam Thakur, a resident of Khani panchayat in the Bharmour forest range, emphasized the need to plant and grow more Pinus gerardiana trees due to their heavy demand.