SRINAGAR: High-density apple farming is revolutionising the apple industry in J&K, with increasing demand for this cultivation method.
Growers from various areas of the valley told the news agency KNO that after experiencing losses in recent years due to various reasons, high-density apple farming has brought smiles back to their faces by fetching handsome returns in the market.
They noted that new apple varieties were introduced in Kashmir after 2015, and the remarkable aspect is that these apples start bearing fruit just a year after planting and reach full production in the 4th or 5th year.
In contrast, traditional apple trees typically take at least ten years to bear fruit and are harvested in November, sometimes leading to damage from untimely snowfall. High-density apples, on the other hand, are harvested in August and have facilities to protect them from hailstorms and other threats.
Mohammad Younis, who cultivates high-density apples on around 8 kanals of land in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, expressed that people have recognised the advantages of high-density apple farming. He mentioned that they are gradually replacing old traditional trees with high-density apple farming due to lower input and labor costs, along with the high quality and uniformity in size and color of the apples.
Some of the high-density apple varieties grown in J&K currently include Jeromine, King Roat, Gala Scarlet, Red Velox, Scarlet Spur-II, Super Chief, Redlum Gala, and Auvi Fuji.
Growers emphasised that high-density apples fetch significantly higher prices compared to traditional varieties, often doubling the rates.
“You don’t need to wait for decades to get fruit; high-density plants start bearing fruit in the very first year, with a bumper crop every year. It also requires fewer fertilizers and pesticides,” Younis said.
Azhar Anjum, an agriculture expert, highlighted that high-density apples grown in J&K are similar to those grown in other countries but pointed out the need for improved grading skills. He emphasised that with better packing and grading techniques, J&K apples could compete internationally.
Horticulture officials informed KNO that approximately 600 hectares of land have been converted to high-density apple farming in J&K, with plans to expand it to around 5,500 hectares in the coming years. They mentioned that a 50 percent subsidy is provided to orchardists who transition to high-density fruit production.
In September 2015, the then J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed inaugurated the region’s first-ever high-density apple orchard at Bamdoora in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kashmir typically produces over 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, with some years exceeding 25 lakh metric tonnes. According to the 2017 economic survey in J&K, half of Kashmir’s population is directly or indirectly dependent on the apple industry, with over 3.5 lakh hectares under apple cultivation. Horticulture plays a vital role in the state’s Gross Domestic Product, contributing about 9.5 percent, and generates approximately 8.50 crore man-days of employment every year in J&K. (KNO)
