High-density apple cultivation is significantly transforming Kashmir's horticulture sector, offering farmers lucrative returns compared to traditional apple varieties. This innovative farming technique, introduced in Kashmir after 2015, allows apple trees to bear fruit much sooner, within the first or second year, reaching full production by the fourth or fifth year. This is a stark contrast to traditional apple trees, which can take up to 15 years to start bearing fruit.
One farmer, Mohammad Ayoub, shared his success story with the Kashmir News Observer (KNO), highlighting how his earnings skyrocketed from $1,220 USD to $7,317 USD in just the second year after switching to high-density apple cultivation on his three-canal land.
Popular high-density apple varieties include Jeromine, King Roat, Gala Scarlet, Red Velox, Scarlet Spur-II, Super Chief, Redlum Gala, and Auvi Fuji. These varieties not only mature faster but are also less susceptible to early snowfall damage due to their earlier harvesting period in August-September.
The government is supporting this shift towards high-density apple orchards by providing a 50% subsidy for establishing these orchards, and there's a high demand for high-density apple trees, sometimes resulting in a year-long wait for trees sourced from abroad. Under a modified high-density plantation scheme, the aim is to bring 5,500 hectares of land in Jammu and Kashmir under high-density apple cultivation by 2026.
The first high-density apple orchard in the region was inaugurated in September 2015, and since then, Kashmir's apple production has been substantial, with over 2 million metric tonnes annually, sometimes reaching up to 2.5 million metric tonnes. The apple industry is vital for Kashmir, with half of the region's population relying on it, over 350,000 hectares dedicated to apple cultivation, contributing approximately 9.5% to the state's gross domestic product (SGDP), and generating 8.5 crore (85 million) man-days of employment annually in Jammu and Kashmir.
This transition to high-density apple cultivation is poised to further boost the region's economy, enhance the competitiveness of Kashmiri apples in the global market, and provide sustainable livelihoods for thousands of families involved in the apple industry.
Source: Kashmir Convener