Clean Plant Centre can work wonders
The Union government is working on the process of establishing a Clean Plant Centre for the Valley. The move will enhance quality and production of apple and other products.
Since high density apple production has increased six-fold in Kashmir the need to have a Clean Plant Centre will further augment the quality of the produce and will make it more competitive with the apples produced in other parts of the globe.
Kashmir has been for many years now experiencing a shift in horticultural practices as a growing number of apple farmers in Kashmir are turning to high-density apple orchards to boost productivity and secure quicker returns.
With increasing support from the Horticulture Department and rising awareness among growers, traditional apple orchards across the valley are being grafted with high-yielding, high-density apple varieties.
Hundreds of kanals of land under conventional apple trees have already been converted to high density as these orchards require less space, bear fruit within 2 to 3 years, and yield significantly more produce per kanal compared to traditional trees.
Farmers are realising that high-density orchards are more profitable in the long run and as such the practice of shifting to high density plants is gaining ground. The government on its part is also helping out the growers by providing technical assistance, training, and subsidised plant material to facilitate this transformation.
Notably, the shift is largely driven by market demand for uniform and high-quality fruit, better disease management and efficient space utilisation. However, the transformation isn’t without its challenges. Proper irrigation, timely pruning, and specialised technical knowledge remain essential for success.
High density apple plantations were first introduced in Kashmir a few years ago. The high-density plantation model is now gaining rapid traction in districts like Shopian, Baramulla and Anantnag followed by Pulwama, Budgam and other hilly district as well.
With climate change affecting traditional farming methods, these adaptive strategies are increasingly viewed as the future of Kashmir’s horticulture. Rough estimates suggest that if the current pace continues, a majority of commercial apple orchards in Kashmir could adopt the high-density model within the next five years.
Importantly, the high-density orchards have a shorter lifespan, require higher initial investment are more vulnerable to pests and diseases besides, depending heavily on dwarf rootstock and skilled management. There are other lacunae as we… The produce cannot be stored as long as traditional varieties in cold storage.
Despite these limitations, the response to the government’s High-Density Plantation (HADP) initiative has been overwhelming.
Presently, the proposed target under the High-Density Plantation (HADP) for the next financial year in Kashmir is 808.5 hectares. Even in the Jammu division, the target for the HADP for the next financial year is 535 hectares.
All these targets can be achieved if the growers get technical support besides a pest and disease free root stock that will ensure that the demand for clean and healthy plants is met with ease.
