SRINAGAR: Around 4,428 farmers in Kashmir have benefited from government-assisted high-density apple plantations covering 1,103.79 hectares, as the Jammu and Kashmir government promotes improved varieties to modernise traditional orcharding.
The Agriculture Production Department disclosed the figures in a written reply to a starred question by MLA Javaid Riyaz during the ongoing session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
The department said it was promoting high-yielding, high-density and improved apple varieties and strains under various government programmes to increase productivity, improve fruit quality and make better use of available orchard land.
Gala, Red Delicious and Granny Smith are among the major varieties being promoted. Gala strains are being encouraged for their fruit colour, eating quality, relatively early bearing and suitability for high-density orchards.
Red Delicious continues to have commercial importance because of its red colour, fruit quality and established market demand, while Granny Smith is being promoted for high-density cultivation, productivity potential and fruit quality.
The department said Granny Smith can also serve as a pollinizer for Gala and Red Delicious, helping facilitate pollination and fruit set in orchards.
According to the reply, about 90 per cent of the area established under high-density apple plantation comprises Gala and Red Delicious strains. The remaining area includes Golden Delicious, Fuji strains, Granny Smith and other suitable pollinizer varieties.
The government said the initiative is aimed at varietal diversification, reducing dependence on a single apple variety, improving orchard productivity and quality, and increasing the income-generating potential of horticulture.
Since the scheme was introduced, 1,103.79 hectares have been brought under high-density apple plantation with government assistance across Kashmir Division, benefiting approximately 4,428 farmers.
