A hobby that turned into career and a passion
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Dr Upendra Dutt Saklani is a name that has become synonyms with his horticulture and kitchen garden expertise in New Zealand for past 15-16 years. Dr Upendra Saklani moved to New Zealand at the age of 65 to join his children who were already settled in New Zealand in 2006. New Zealand was altogether a different world for him and as he describes it, he felt like he was on a different planet
Dr Saklani says it was an absolutely amazing experience for him after having moved to Southern hemisphere and experiencing the Sun movement, season change and vegetable growing in reverse order from Northern Hemisphere. Dr Saklani says his background and experience in horticulture came handy to help the needy people with little or no knowledge. He has been helping such people and many other organisations who promote organic vegetation. Currently he is helping his son who runs a horticulture farm near Paerata on the outskirts of Auckland.
Dr Upendra Saklani was born in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India in 1941. He graduated with Honour’s degree in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and master’s degree in Horticulture from G.B. Pant University of Agri & Technology, Pant Nagar, India and subsequently acquired PhD degree from Kanpur University in Uttar Pradesh. Dr Saklani served at the Pant Nagar University in different capacities for 28 years as Subject matter Specialist, Associate Professor and Associate Director in Horticulture Extension. After taking volunteer retirement in 1993 he worked for a Seed company as a senior scientist and headed the Department of Research & Development for around 10 years. After this he served as Senior Consultant for over a year in Agriculture Finance Corporation (AFC). He visited different parts of India monitoring assignments as National Monitor under Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India till 2006. Dr Saklani was awarded the best field scientist award by G.B. Pant University for 1982-83 and 1983-84 for promoting and disseminating horticulture development programme among farmers of northern India.
He moved to New Zealand in year 2006 to join his son and daughter who lived here and has continued his passion on his personal and at community level since then. Dr Saklani says most people from Indian subcontinent do not understand the difference between the climate of New Zealand and India to grow any produce. They normally try using the method of growing vegetables or fruits keeping in mind their experience from India. The weather in New Zealand is completely different from India and we need to adapt the local methods and ways to grow any produce. He explained how a normal household waste can be used as manure to grow organic vegetables and fruits at home by avoiding harmful chemicals and fertilisers. He says the quality of soil and fertility strength of the soil is very important to get a good quality produce. Selecting a good quality of seed for any produce is a must and the cleanliness and hygiene of plants is as important as its for humans. If the place to grow vegetables/fruits is not kept tidy it can attract dangerous insects and weeds which can hamper the quality and life of the produce.
·
.Dr Saklani says a good research and consultation with some experts is a good idea before you plan to grow anything in your kitchen garden. He says he always happy to lend a hand to anyone seeking for some advice in horticulture. -Yugal Parashar