Never before has horticulture, the premier industry of Kashmir valley, received as much care and attention for all round development as has been seen in the recent decision of the Union Cabinet which accorded sanction to 500 crore rupees for Kashmir horticulture under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). It abundantly reflects that the Prime Minister is very sincere in his expressions that he is interested in full-fledged development of Jammu and Kashmir State, The most satisfying thing about this big decision is that the Prime Minister’s horticulture package focuses on rural population of the valley because it is the rural population that is involved in this industry unlike the urban population involved in the tourist industry.
Figures and statistics in this connection are interesting. MIDH will benefit over 21,000 apple growers and apple orchardists located in more than 491 villages of Jammu & Kashmir who have faced huge losses in the aftermath of the floods. Additionally, the package will also enable generation of employment for over 3,300 people in high density apple plantation and for 18,000 to 20,000 people in medium density apple plantation. These initiatives will also result in employment in allied sectors such as grading / packing units, Controlled Atmosphere (CA) / cold storage units, transportation sector, etc. The package will help in setting up of 329 hectares of new apple orchards and restoration of 3,900 hectares of damaged ones over three years. Under the package, apple growers will be given financial help in 90:10 for importing planting material at the maximum rate of Rs 460 per plant while funds in the ratio of 50:50 for importing four wire trellis system at the rate of Rs 9.8 lakh per hectare for new apple orchards.
Funding norms have been relaxed to encourage apple growers to import special varieties of plants for better survival, early flowering and enhanced fruiting apple planting materials and four wire trellises system which may increase the productivity 3-4 times. As the high density plantation also involves technology and regular upkeep of orchards, this will result in wage enhancement and overall horticulture sector growth due to increase in the farmer’s income as a result of increased productivity. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister decided on the import of planting material at the maximum rate of Rs 460 per plant for 329 hectares of new apple orchards and restoration of 3900 hectares of old damaged apple orchards.
It has to be noted that the plan for development of horticulture, particularly apple industry in Kashmir valley, has been very carefully drawn and all aspects of the industry from testing the soil and introducing new variety of apple in which there is early blossoming and early ripening of the fruit besides scientific preservation and timely marketing are mainly addressed, will go a long way in changing the entire pattern of horticulture in the valley. Decades ago when scab disease struck apple industry in Kashmir, it almost destroyed it extensively. Fighting scab became very expensive and very complicated and even then scab could not be controlled the way it should have been controlled. Horticulturists and orchardists suffered great losses and many of them were thinking of re-converting their orchards in farm lands for yearly cultivation.
Prime Minister’s special 500-crore package has come at very appropriate time when the industry, after suffering the devastation caused by 2014 floods, was almost gasping for a breath of survival. If this package is properly utilized at all levels, we are confident that horticulture industry in the valley will receive a new lease of life. Thousands of new orchard units will come up. New variety of apples that can suit the climate of Kashmir will have to be introduced and new methods of packing, transportation and marketing have to be introduced. The good thing is that Kashmir horticulturist is open minded and not conservative and is willing to introduce scientific methods of improving the industry. It is for the first time that the Government has made a strong bid for modernization of Kashmir apple industry along most recent scientific lines. The plan offered is very carefully drawn to meet the needs of our horticulturist fraternity. However at this point of time, we need to remind the functionaries of the State Horticulture Department that in an euphoria of planting new variety of apple plants, it has to be kept in mind that new varieties should not be susceptible to disease like scab. Full precautionary measures will have to be taken lest malevolent plants brought on the plea of a changed variety do not cause harm to the industry.
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