SRINAGAR: Around 300 hectares of traditional apple and walnut orchards in Jammu and Kashmir have been converted into high-density plantations under various Government schemes, while another 909.13 hectares have been brought under new high-density plantations over the past five years, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 667, raised by Shri Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, regarding the promotion of high-density plantations under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Centre said financial assistance under MIDH is available for establishing high-density apple and walnut plantations through new area expansion as well as for rejuvenating old and senile orchards.
It added that the Government of the Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir is implementing the High-Density Plantation Scheme (HDP), Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and the Jammu Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) to encourage the conversion of traditional orchards into high-density plantations.
However, the Centre clarified that separate data on the conversion of traditional walnut orchards are not maintained under MIDH.
On financial support, the Government said high-density orchards are supported through MIDH, the National Horticulture Board (NHB) and the Modified High Density Plantation Scheme of the Jammu Kashmir Government. Institutional finance, wherever applicable, is provided based on project cost and appraisal by the concerned lending institution.
Under MIDH (NHM/HMNEH), the Government subsidy is 40 per cent of the maximum eligible project cost in general areas and 50 per cent of the project cost for North Eastern and Himalayan States/UTs, Scheduled Areas and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, JK and Ladakh. The remaining project cost after subsidy may be met by beneficiaries through their own resources and/or institutional finance, subject to appraisal by the lending institution.
The National Horticulture Board (NHB) also provides a subsidy of 40 per cent of the maximum eligible project cost in general areas and 50 per cent of the project cost for the specified North Eastern and Himalayan States/UTs, Scheduled Areas and UTs, including JK and Ladakh. NHB assistance is credit-linked, with projects required to be financed through institutional credit and the term loan not being less than the admissible subsidy.
Under the Modified High Density Plantation Scheme, beneficiaries are eligible for 50 per cent assistance based on the crop-wise per-hectare budget defined under the scheme. Eligible beneficiaries may also avail institutional finance of up to 80 per cent of the project cost, subject to the lending norms of the concerned financial institution.
Responding to concerns over the availability of elite rootstocks and recurring losses caused by unseasonal dry spells and climate change, the Centre said financial assistance is being provided under various Government schemes, including MIDH, for establishing large nurseries, elite disease-free nurseries and rootstock banks in both the public and private sectors.
The Government also said Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facilities have been established in Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir for imported high-value horticulture planting material, including apple and walnut, to facilitate the availability of genuine and quality planting material.
It said improved and elite dwarf rootstocks are being promoted for high-density plantations, which can support early bearing, higher productivity and better adaptation to changing climatic conditions.
To address the impact of unseasonal dry spells, financial assistance is also being provided for water harvesting structures, farm ponds, bore wells, drip irrigation systems and other micro-irrigation infrastructure aimed at improving water-use efficiency.
The Government further said financial assistance is available for the installation of anti-hail nets and the promotion of mulching practices to protect orchards from adverse weather events and conserve soil moisture.
The ICAR–Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (ICAR-CITH), Srinagar, is also undertaking research on the production and multiplication of elite rootstocks, evaluation of climate-resilient rootstocks, standardisation of propagation techniques and production of disease-free planting material, with the objective of improving the productivity and sustainability of apple orchards.
