In 1998, Hariman purchased some apples from a village in Bilaspur. After eating the fruit, he discarded the seeds in his backyard. He noticed that the seeds started germinating in 2001. He got some fruits on that tree. As an experienced farmer, he could sense that this apple tree bearing fruits in a warm area like his village situated at 1800 ft above mean sea level was extraordinary. Hence, he preserved this plant, and the next year, he grafted some branches on a plum tree as no apple tree was available. Proceeding with such research and plantation process. He finally came up with a variety of apples that can be grown in tropical subtropical and plain areas. It was named HRMN -99.
Generally, apples can be grown at an altitude of 5000 to 8,500 ft above mean sea level in Himalayan ranges, and it needs 1000 to 1500 hours of chilling. But the variety developed by Hariman can grow at low hills or plain areas, which are about 1800 ft above means sea level. This variety does not require chilling hours. It is a scab disease-resistant apple variety that contains common characteristics such as; it can be grown in high-temperature areas. The plane height is up to 12 -15 ft fruit starts after three years of plantation. Flowering starts in early January, and harvesting can be done after six months, that is, in June. The ripe fruit color is yellow to red, with normal fruit size and sweetness. The only disadvantage of fruit is that it has a short shelf life of around 10 to 12 days at room temperature. The average yield of a well-grown plant is about one quintal per plant.
Hariman’s innovation has received various regional, state, and national awards. He has received great recognition, and newspapers and magazines have written about his Apple variety. Today his farming practices are recognized nationally and internationally.
A well-known progressive farmer cum innovator Hariman Sharma from Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, formulated an innovative variety of apples that can be successfully grown in plains. In these tropical and subtropical areas, temperatures can be as high as 40 to 45° Celsius during summers. GIAN and the Honey Bee Network aided this innovation. GIAN and NIF applied on behalf of Hariman Sharma to register HRMN 99 under the PPV and FR Act 2001.
