Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 26
The Horticulture Department has brought 1103.79 hectares under high-density apple plantations in Kashmir, covering about 4428 farmers, according to government data.
The figures were provided in a written reply to an Assembly question on the introduction of high-yielding and high-density apple varieties.
The government said the programme aims to increase productivity, improve fruit quality, make better use of available land and raise returns for farmers.
Gala, Red Delicious and Granny Smith are among the varieties being promoted.
About 90 percent of the area under high-density plantations comprises Gala and Red Delicious strains, while the remainder includes Golden Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith and polliniser varieties, the government said.
Overall fruit production in Jammu and Kashmir increased from 20.06 lakh metric tonnes in 2018-19 to 26.92 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, according to Assembly data.
Apple production rose from 20.40 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 21.10 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. But the quantity of apples shipped outside the union territory fell from 18.14 lakh tonnes to 13.34 lakh tonnes over the same period.
The government has also been focusing on processing, post-harvest management and market access.
A NITI Aayog roadmap for the sector has proposed a long-term programme, “Operation Golden Greens”, covering 2026-30, 2030-35 and 2035-47.
The roadmap calls for greater use of modern technology, improved planting material, high-density cultivation, processing, branding, cold-chain infrastructure and climate-resilient practices.
It sets an indicative target of increasing the horticulture economy from about Rs 10,000 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 60,000 crore by 2047.
The roadmap also proposes increasing productivity from 7.64 tonnes per hectare to 25 tonnes, raising processing capacity from 2 percent to 25 percent, and reducing post-harvest losses from an estimated 20-30 percent to 2 percent.
