Plantation of high density apple goes up in South Kashmir
Pulwama: The demand for plantation of high density apple has increased in Southern districts with people preferring to cut down their apple and almond trees to start afresh with plantation of high density apple.
Imported varieties of apple that yield more fruit, consume less fertilizer and pesticide is in greater demand in southern Kashmir.
Earlier, the state government launched a scheme of providing high density apple trees to the farmers in year 2016 and scores of fruit growers have already availed this scheme and are very satisfied with their crop yield due to which more and more growers are planting Italian based high density apple breed.
The government under this scheme promotes high density plantations, phasing out old plantations which have completed their economic life, giving farmers a subsidy of 50 percent on this re-plantation. The department also provide technical support to these growers for scientific layout of these new plantations.
“After proper assessment, site selection and taking stock of available irrigation facility, we provide 50% subsidy to the growers who plant new apple trees of this new breed,” says an official within horticulture department.
For this revamp, the cost worked out by the department for a Kanal of land has been estimated at Rs 1.6 lakh, he said, adding that government provide Rs 80,000 to the beneficiary while he has to invest Rs 80,000 of his own.
He said proper irrigation is vital for raising this type of plantation and for a bigger plots may need a bore well facility and contrary to traditional plantations this setup needs a drip pattern of irrigation, proper sanitation and frequent checkups.
Under high density plantation, about 4000 plants can be planted per hectare which is just 250 trees under traditional farming, he said.
Official figures suggest that in Pulwama district during year 2016-17, 75 Kanals of land were planted with high density apples under this scheme and in year 2017-18 around 25 hectares of land were planted with high density apple trees and this year horticulture department is working to brought 100 hectares of land under this scheme in Valley.
The largest high breed apple orchard is in Chakoora village of Pulwama which is spread over 42 Kanals land.
Showkat Ahmad, a high density apple grower said that crop yield of high density apple trees is increasing with each passing year and rates are also very high than the traditional apples.
Horticulture experts say that high density apples are less prone to diseases, adding that “we waste huge amount of fertilizers and sprays due to the height of traditional trees which results in soil degradation and environmental pollution.”
High density apples consume 70 percent less fertilizer and 8o percent less pesticide spray, said Ansar ul Haq Assistant Manager at Master Pro Lassipora, adding that these apple trees produce about 50 to 70 tons of fruit per hectare by the third year of plantation while as traditional varieties just produce 10 to 15 tons.
A scientist from SKAUST said that horticulture sector in Kashmir is running under losses despite the hard work of growers and need of the hour is to grow more and more high density apple trees.
Orchardists can take advantage of every inch of their land, adding that “some of the high-density varieties are zero-percent prone to scab, and some varieties have a tendency to produce 100 tons of fruit on a hectare of land.”
Jahangeer Ganaie
