The subject of scientific orcharding in the State came up in a recent event marking the review meeting of the orcharding sector presided over by the Chief Minister. Kashmir climate suits growth of a variety of fruits known for quality and taste. Apple industry is an old horticultural activity in the valley. Vast stretches of land are under horticultural production particularly the apple. However, in recent years, the production of apple, its quality and marketing management all have been recording dwindling graph. Fruit growers are not getting reasonable return and at the same time they have to make heavy investments without any certainty of adequate returns.
We have two Agricultural Universities in the State. These institutions have very competent faculties renowned in their respective fields of specialization. However, despite that, our horticulture remains backward if not primitive. The manner in which our horticulture should have been modernized is not there. For example, certification for declaring walnut, almonds, apricots and Ladakh vegetables as produce of organic farming could have yielded increased returns to the growers. Emphasis should have been on high density organic orcharding. The Chief Minister rightly suggested five to seven micro-irrigation/sprinkling locations to boost high density orcharding.
We think commercializing of horticultural products could be a way of supporting the sector in overall estimation. Quality and volume of horticulture products, and apple in particular, need to be improved and increased. Many regions of the state have good climate for growing vineyard. Kashmir’s climate is just like that of Switzerland where grape production is the source of the largest industry of wine production in Switzerland and France. Why should not grape production become a lucrative commercializing industry in our State? We need initiative to increase the quality and quantity of our horticultural products. Some years ago world famous British company Cadbury proposed to develop apple jam and juice manufacturing enterprise in Kashmir valley. It had even identified sites where apple collection would be carried out and then small jam manufacturing unties would be established for the benefit of growers. But this scheme was stalled for reasons not known to us. In short, the two Agricultural Universities in the State have the responsibility of bringing our agricultural and horticultural pursuits on most modern lines. The Chief Minister is right in saying that researches conducted in the universities should be translated on the ground.
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