MY APPLE TREES ARE MY LIFE

MY APPLE TREES ARE MY LIFE

“These trees sustain me and my family every year.”

As Abdul Gani neatly prunes his apple trees, clipping away with a practiced precision, he has an oddly contented expression on his face. Apple cultivation has been in his family for the last three generations. He has seen his grandparents and parents toiling on the same orchards that he now maintains in Belnipora in Aloosa Block.

“This farm has been in our family since the last thirty years. The technique of maintaining the tree year after year, has been passed down over generations. I learnt how to take care of the trees as a child when I used to help my grandfather. It is a delicate process, nurturing the sapling, protecting it from insects, pruning the trees before snowfall in the winters, and waiting for the right time to harvest. The effort is worth it because the fruit is what helps me sustain my family every year.”

Abdul Gani is not alone; agriculture plays a prominent role for the economic development of the Union Territory. It contributes around 30% to the economy of the area and almost 70% of its population is dependent on agriculture. Latest trends indicate a shift towards high value commodities such as fruits and vegetables. Horticulture plays a pivotal role in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. Owing to favourable agro-climatic conditions and temperature, horticulture is fast expanding in the region which is characterised by the increasing dominance of apple cultivation.

Horticulture has emerged as the most robust field as it is generating ample opportunities for sustaining a large number of agro based industries. The Union Territory is making a name of its own for its horticultural produce both in India and abroad. There are more than 7 lakh families who are benefited economically by this boom. There is a significant increase in the areas which are under horticulture cultivation. Apple cultivation is the fore runner in this shift of trend as apple has a comparative advantage over the other crops that can be grown in these hilly regions.

The Union Territory is responsible for almost 70% of the national production of apples. Apple cultivation is a highly profitable economic activity as it gives higher returns and has an ability to withstand transportation stress which leads to larger markets. The income per acre is much higher than any other horticulture crop, provided it is done in a systematic way. The rapid increase in the area under apple cultivation can be attributed to higher profitability. Climate change has also played a role in encouraging the shift in land use pattern.

After plantation, it takes about 7-8 years to reach fruit bearing stage. Initial investment on this crop is quite heavy on account of the cost involved in digging pits, application of manures and fertilizers, cost of plants, transplanting and so on. On an average 250 trees are planted in a hectare. The growers have to incur costs on maintenance for about 7-9 years. The main items of maintenance are, cost of manures, fertilizers, pesticides, pruning and preparation of basins etc.

The farmers face multiple problems like marketing, cold storage facilities, good quality pesticides, and irrigation which affect the overall productivity of the sector. If these impediments are removed, productivity can be enhanced leading to more economic prosperity for the farmers. The yield of apple is showing clear signs of stagnation and is hovering between 9 and 10 MT/ha during the last four decades. Therefore, policy intervention by the government along with the upgradation of pre and post-harvest technology is the need of the hour to boost the productivity of this sector.

The government is taking note of this requirement and being proactive in its approach. In a recent meeting chaired by Advisor to Lieutenant Governor -KK Sharma, he declared that about 240 hectares of land has been brought under the High-Density Programme and all steps are being initiated to remove bottlenecks, if any, in the scheme so that the farmers are fully benefited by this innovative programme. He said that steps are afoot for ensuring that the horticulture and related activities get a fillip by way of various government schemes and interventions so that the quantum of produce gets increased contributing to the economy of Jammu and Kashmir.

The deputations from the horticulture department and the farmer associations raised several issues like establishment of laboratories for testing of pesticides, insecticides and fungicides, grant of subsidy directly to farmers through Horticulture Department, single window system for establishment of Mini CA Stores, introduction of market intervention scheme, taking measures for tackling Scab outbreak in orchards in the Valley, making Mughal Road all weather and crop insurance schemes.  

It is hoped that with this renewed vigor and interest in horticulture, hard working farmers like Abdul Gani, will benefit and their future generations will prosper in this sector.