Srinagar, Jul (KNO): The apple industry in Jammu and Kashmir is undergoing a quiet revolution with high-density apple farming emerging as a game changer. Growers who have adopted this modern technique are now reaping significant financial benefits, prompting wider interest and investment in the sector.
Farmers from various districts of the Kashmir Valley told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that high-density apple cultivation has dramatically improved their yields and income, transforming livelihoods in many areas.
Introduced after 2015, these new apple varieties begin bearing fruit just one year after plantation and reach full production within four to five years—far quicker than the traditional varieties that take nearly a decade to mature.
Moreover, while conventional apple harvesting often takes place in November—making it vulnerable to early snowfall and frost—high-density apples are typically harvested in July and August, avoiding much of the seasonal risk.
"We have seen the benefits firsthand," said Javid Ahmad, an orchardist from Pulwama who has cultivated high-density apples on eight kanals of land. "People have started replacing old trees with these new varieties. Not only do they require less labour and lower input costs, but the apples are also more uniform in size and colour, with superior quality."
Among the popular high-density varieties now cultivated in the region are Jeromine, King Roat, Gala Scarlet, Red Velox, Scarlet Spur-II, Super Chief, Redlum Gala, and Auvi Fuji.
According to growers, these apples fetch nearly double the market price of traditional varieties. High-density apples are currently selling at Rs 100–140 per kilogram, compared to Rs 50 for conventional types. The plants also require fewer fertilisers and pesticides, making the method more sustainable.
The season has begun, and currently, there is good demand for high-density apples, and farmers are hopeful that demand will go up further in the coming days.
"You don’t have to wait for decades to see returns," said Fayaz Ahmad, another grower. "The plants bear fruit from the very first year, and yields are consistently good."
Seeing the positive outcomes, the Department of Horticulture is pushing for expansion.
Officials told KNO that approximately 1000 hectares have already been brought under high-density apple cultivation. Plans are in place to expand this to 5,500 hectares in the coming years.
To incentivise adoption, the government is offering a 50 per cent subsidy to orchardists who either switch to or begin high-density farming.
The transformation began in September 2015 when the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed inaugurated Jammu and Kashmir’s first high-density apple orchard at Bamdoora in Anantnag district.
Kashmir produces over 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, with the figure crossing 25 lakh metric tonnes in peak years. The apple industry forms a vital part of the region’s economy.
According to the 2017 Economic Survey of J&K, nearly 50 per cent of the Valley’s population is directly or indirectly linked to the apple trade. Over 3.5 lakh hectares are currently under apple cultivation in the Union Territory.
The horticulture sector contributes around 9.5 per cent to the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP) and generates over 8.5 crore man-days annually, underlining its critical role in the region’s socio-economic fabric—(KNO)