Mufti calls for promoting high-density orchards in JK

Advocating for best practices in fruit farming, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today pushed for promotion of high-density orchards with facility of micro-irrigation to arrest the fall in apple production in the state.
The chief minister also asked the Horticulture Department to take immediate necessary steps to get certification for declaring walnut, almonds, apricots and Ladakh vegetables as produce of organic farming.
"This will ensure far higher returns than what we are getting today for these fruits," Sayeed said, while chairing a high-level review meeting on the Horticulture sector in Jammu.
Describing development of Horticulture sector as the prime focus of the government, he said that since old plantations are leading to falling yields in apple production, there was a need to shift to high-density orchard in a time-bound manner for which stocks can be imported from the European countries.

To begin with, the CM said, the department should choose five to seven locations for micro-irrigation and sprinkling so as to encourage people towards high-density orchard.
Stressing upon the need to shift to commercial farming to increase fruit production, the Sayeed said the government will offer a package of incentives to the growers for improving the quality and volume of production in the state.

"Apple continues to lead fruit production in the state with 64 per cent of the total produce, followed by walnut and almonds," he said.
"Our potential in exports is far greater than the Rs 4,500 crore we earned last year by exporting 10 lakh ton of fresh and dry fruits," he added.

Equating the potential of Horticulture sector with that of the Tourism sector, the chief minister said there was a need to properly implement the market intervention scheme to help facilitate growers to sell their produce with improved returns.