SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu Kashmir has said that the Union Territory produced over 21 lakh metric tonnes of apples in 2024–25, with nearly the entire share coming from the Kashmir division, reaffirming its position as India’s premier apple-producing region.
According to the Agriculture Production Department’s reply in the Assembly, Kashmir’s apple production stood at 20.79 lakh metric tonnes, while Jammu accounted for 30,393 metric tonnes. The department said that the chief apple varieties grown in Jammu and Kashmir include Red Delicious, Royal Delicious, American Apirouge, Golden Delicious, Maharaji, Ambri, Chamura, Stark Rimson, and Razak Wari, with harvesting spread between August and November.
The government said that 13.35 lakh metric tonnes of apples were exported during 2023–24, while 2.53 lakh metric tonnes had been exported up to the end of September 2025. The department said that a network of 24 fruit and vegetable mandis has been established across the Union Territory to facilitate marketing for growers and traders. Additionally, 17 mandis have been integrated with the National Agricultural Market (e-NAM) portal, enabling electronic trading. More than 55,000 farmers and traders are registered on the portal, with trade worth Rs 1,046 crore recorded by March 2025 and an additional Rs 1,412 crore up to September 2025.
The department acknowledged a major challenge in the form of limited cold storage infrastructure. Against an estimated requirement of six lakh metric tonnes, Jammu and Kashmir currently has a controlled atmosphere (CA) storage capacity of only 2.92 lakh metric tonnes. The government said it plans to raise this capacity over the next five years with both central assistance under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and top-up funding through the UT’s Capex budget.
To promote private investment, the government is conducting awareness campaigns in each district to inform youth and growers about incentives for establishing CA storage facilities. Most existing stores are located in Lassipora, Pulwama, and Aglar, Shopian, but efforts are under way with the Industries and Commerce Department to create horticulture-specific industrial estates in other districts as well.
Under the MIDH scheme, a 50 per cent subsidy—up to Rs 9 crore—is available for setting up CA stores with a capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes, supplemented by additional support under the Capex component. The department said detailed lists of beneficiaries and subsidy disbursals are enclosed in annexures to the Assembly reply.
