Achi news desk-
High density plantation has emerged as a game changer in the world of fruit growing, especially in regions like Kashmir, which is famous for its apple orchards. This modern agricultural practice offers many advantages, promising an early harvest and higher quality compared to traditional methods. Notable apple varieties currently grown in Jammu and Kashmir include Jeromine, King Roat, Gala Scarlet, Red Velox, Scarlet Spur-II, Super Chief, Redlum Gala, and Auvi Fuji. The potential of high density plantations to revolutionize fruit production in Kashmir was underlined by Vice Chancellor Dr Nazir Ahmad Ganaie of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) during the recent Apple Blossom Festival held at SKUAST Shalimar. Ganaie has encouraged farmers to embrace modern technologies, stressing the need to adopt high density orchards as a viable alternative to conventional employment opportunities. He highlighted the significance of initiatives such as the Apple Blossom Festival in educating orchardists about the benefits of high density plantings. These include not only early yield but also higher fruit quality, essential factors for ensuring profitability and sustainability in fruit growing. He further emphasized the importance of leveraging the organization’s resources for data collection from fruit blocks. He also emphasized the need to identify critical factors influencing fruit growth and encouraged students to actively participate by keeping observation records. An increasing number of farmers are switching to high intensity apple farming due to its low input and labor costs, together with the higher quality of the apples produced. These apples exhibit uniformity in color and size, making them more attractive to consumers. Farmers who have adopted high density plantation methods have reported a significant increase in profitability, with high density apples fetching significantly higher prices compared to traditional varieties. Furthermore, high density plants start producing fruit in the first year, ensuring a huge yield annually while requiring less fertilizer and pesticides. One of the key challenges in the horticulture sector is renovating old orchards. Under the High Density Planting Scheme (Apple), efforts are being made to replace old, senile, or flood affected orchards with high density plantings. The aim of this initiative is to revitalize the apple industry by upgrading nurseries to ensure the availability of quality plant material. The Horticulture Department also focuses on the development of the sector through regeneration, High Density Plantation, mechanization to increase production, productivity, improve quality and also to provide the best marketing infrastructure to the growers/farmers and traders within and outside to the State. . To promote the state’s horticulture produce and facilitate its access to the global market, the Jammu and Kashmir government had entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED). This initiative focuses on the High Density Plantation of various fruits including Apple, Walnut, Almond, Cherry, Mango, Litchi, Olive, and more. The scheme is expected to be operational till March 2026, with a targeted coverage area of ​​5500 hectares across the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Thus, the High Intensity Plantation Scheme (Apples) holds tremendous promise for the future of apple cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir.
