The Horticulture Department of Jammu and Kashmir has introduced high-yielding, high-density and improved varieties and strains in the Kashmir Valley under various government programmes.
The aim of introducing new varieties is to modernise the traditional apple production system, enhance productivity per unit area, improve fruit quality and uniformity, optimise the utilisation of available land, and increase the economic returns of farmers and orchardists.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government informed the Legislative Assembly that the major apple varieties and strains being promoted include:
Gala
Red Delicious
Granny Smith (Green Apple)
Gala strains are being promoted for their attractive fruit colour, desirable eating quality, relatively early bearing and suitability for adoption under high-density orchard systems. Their favourable fruit characteristics and increasing commercial acceptance make them well suited to modern and intensive apple cultivation.
Red Delicious strains continue to hold significant commercial importance owing to their distinctive red colour, good fruit quality and established market demand. The variety is also being promoted as part of the Department’s efforts to improve the productivity and commercial viability of apple orchards.
Granny Smith (Green Apple) is also being promoted owing to its suitability for high-density production systems, potential to enhance productivity and favourable fruit quality characteristics. Further, it can serve as a pollinizer for Gala and Red Delicious varieties, thereby facilitating effective pollination, improving fruit set and contributing to overall orchard productivity.
The promotion of these improved varieties and strains forms part of the Department’s broader efforts towards the modernisation, intensification and diversification of apple cultivation, with a focus on improving productivity, fruit quality and the overall income-generating potential of farmers.
The Department has been promoting high-density apple plantations in the Kashmir Division under various government schemes, with the objective of enhancing productivity, improving fruit quality, promoting diversification and modernising the traditional apple production system.
Under the scheme, different improved varieties and strains are being planted in farmers’ fields to promote varietal diversification and reduce dependence on a single variety.
Approximately 90 per cent of the area under high-density apple plantations comprises Gala and Red Delicious strains, while the remaining area is covered by other varieties and strains, including Golden Delicious, Fuji strains, Granny Smith and other suitable pollinizer varieties.
Since the inception of the scheme, a total area of 1,103.79 hectares has been established under high-density apple plantations with government assistance across the Kashmir Division, benefiting approximately 4,428 farmers.