Srinagar, Aug 04 (KNO): High-density apple plantation is being promoted across Jammu and Kashmir, including North Kashmir, under the High-Density Plantation (HDP) Scheme of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP), the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The information, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), was provided by Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur in response to an unstarred question raised by Baramulla Lok Sabha MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh. The MP had sought details of proposals for development of apple orchards and walnuts in North Kashmir to meet global standards, GI tagging and export promotion of products in Baramulla constituency, cold storage infrastructure in Baramulla, and statistics of high-density plantations in the constituency.
According to information provided by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, high-density apple plantation is being promoted through quality planting material, trellis support systems, micro-irrigation, anti-hail nets, land development, plant protection measures, and machinery. The initiative aims at early bearing, improved fruit quality, and enhanced productivity to enable growers to meet wider market requirements and global standards.
Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), assistance is provided at 40 per cent in general areas and 50 per cent for Himalayan States/UTs, up to two hectares per beneficiary, as per approved cost norms for planting material and other input costs. The support includes high-density plantation and rejuvenation of existing orchards, along with add-on components such as fruit bagging, weed mats, anti-hail protection, and fencing.
On export promotion, the Centre said the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has undertaken several initiatives to promote exports of scheduled agricultural products from Jammu and Kashmir, including Baramulla district. These include apples, black carrots, GI-tagged Kashmir saffron, walnuts, and almonds in international markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
APEDA has also organised International Buyer-Seller Meets and trade interactions in Srinagar and Jammu to connect exporters, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and overseas buyers. Financial assistance was provided for upgrading the food testing laboratory at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) to strengthen testing, quality assurance, and traceability infrastructure. Applications for GI tags have been submitted for apples and walnuts from Baramulla.
Regarding cold storage infrastructure, the Centre said Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage units have been established in Baramulla under MIDH. The five units listed in the official annexure have a combined capacity of 18,500 metric tonnes.
The units are: M/s Kachroo, established in 2012–13 with a capacity of 3,500 MT; M/s Alpine Fresh Art, Baramulla, established in 2012–13 with 3,000 MT; M/s H.N. Agrichain Pvt. Ltd., Baramulla, established in 2013–14 with 5,000 MT; M/s North Fresh Agro Cold Chain Pvt. Ltd., established in 2018–19 with 5,000 MT; and M/s Nundreshi, established in 2018–19 with 2,000 MT.
The government said support under the Union Territory Capital Expenditure (UT CAPEX) Budget is also being provided for the establishment of CA storage infrastructure in North Kashmir. Under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), 28 cold storages and cold-chain projects have been approved in Kashmir.
APEDA has also extended financial support to an APEDA-registered exporter for setting up an Integrated Packhouse in Jammu and Kashmir for processing horticulture produce. The National Horticulture Board released a subsidy of Rs 422.82 lakh to a CA storage project in Baramulla district in 2023–24, with a capacity of 5,832 metric tonnes.
The official year-wise data for the High-Density Plantation Programme in Baramulla constituency shows that 13.12 hectares were covered and 26 beneficiaries assisted in 2016–17; 2.183 hectares and four beneficiaries in 2018–19; 31.48 hectares and 28 beneficiaries in 2019–20; 51.332 hectares and 64 beneficiaries in 2020–21; 15.0875 hectares and 30 beneficiaries in 2021–22; 28.3865 hectares and 45 beneficiaries in 2022–23; 19.094 hectares and 45 beneficiaries in 2023–24; 25.927 hectares and 80 beneficiaries in 2024–25; and 58.036 hectares and 277 beneficiaries in 2025–26.
The cumulative total for the period is 244.646 hectares of area covered, with 599 beneficiaries assisted under the High-Density Plantation Programme in Baramulla constituency—(KNO)