Fruit orchards replacing paddy fields in Kashmir

Kashmiri apples are increasingly in demand in both national and international markets and the prospects of earning substantial profits from the sale of the fruit is luring the farmers to turn away from paddy growth and covert the fields into orchards.

The trend is giving rise to a new concept called 'mixed cropping' in the valley. Large fields of paddy are gradually turning into orchards in Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama and Anantnag districts of Kashmir.

An officer in the J&K Horticulture department, G H Bhat told Business Standard that a trend has been observed that many Kashmiri farmers are interested in growing fruit these days. But it was equally important to enhance the agriculture crops as well in view of the increasing demand and the population expansion.

Not only this, farmers are even interested in growing flowers and and vegetables as well for the larger commercial gains, the growth of these commodities provides them.

He disclosed that fruit production is on the rise in Kashmir for the last several years and it has helped in improving the economic condition of this region despite massive setbacks through militancy.

Quoting figures, Mr Bhat said that out of the total 3.59 lakh hectare of cultivable land available in Kashmir, 11, 788 hectare was agricultural land.

According to figures available with the Agriculture and Horticultutre departments, in last three to five years about 3000 hectares of agricultural land has been converted into orchards in Kashmir and the process was still continuing.

The market demand of the Kashmiri fruits like apple, cherry and pears has given a decent turnover to the growers and has totalled nearly Rs 1800 crore this year.