Jammu and Kashmir’s apple plantation is set to witness a paradigm shift. The promotion of high-density apple plantation in the UT is sure to usher in a golden era for the UT’s commercial growers.
The forward-looking step of promoting high-density apple cultivation under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and J&K Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) marks the beginning of the bright future for the State’s horticultural sector.
Traditional apple cultivation methods have so far dominated the region, which, despite yielding good results, had its limitations.
The new method overcomes the shortcomings of the traditional system as it ensures higher yield per unit area using improved rootstocks and scientifically planned plantation.
These modern plantation techniques produce standardised high-quality produce which in turn fetches remunerative prices in the market.
This would mean prosperity for the farmers as the yields are likely to be multiplied many times than before.
Further, the UT’s support to the growers through HADP and JKCIP has made the task of adopting these new technologies more feasible for the small growers.
Hence, not only will the image of Jammu and Kashmir as the premium apple growing tract be reinforced, but also contribute to making the UT’s youth economically prosperous by creating lucrative employment opportunities in horticulture.
With high-density apple plantation coming up across the UT, the future looks bright for the growers and the growers in Jammu and Kashmir can truly look forward to reaping a rich harvest.
The official confirmation in the Lok Sabha regarding the extensive promotion of high-density apple plantation cutting across the Union Territory is nothing but a harbinger of change. Time and again, it has been witnessed that the age-old methods of planting trees at a wide distance in orchards have not yielded fruit in time nor adapted easily to the changing conditions of the climate.
