30 hectares of land to be covered under HD apple in Pulwama this year : Director Horticulture
PAMPORE: Director Horticulture Kashmir Ghulam Rasool Mir on Saturday inaugurated a high-density apple plant nursery of a local farmer at Ladhoo village of Pampore area in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
On the occasion, the Director interacted with farmers and listened to their demands/issues and offered assurance of comprehensive support in all aspects. He issued directives to the field functionaries of the department to provide the orchardists with all technical expertise required for the entire range of orchard-related activities, spanning from training and pruning to harvesting, encompassing thinning, fertigation, nutrient management, pest/disease management, among others
He also congratulated local farmer Farooq Ahmad Mir of Ladhoo and assured him of all possible help. The Director was accompanied by chief horticulture officer Pulwama Javaid Ahmad, other officers and field staff of the horticulture department.
Talking to Kashmir Reader, the Director of Horticulture said that high-density apple is an ambitious project of the government. “We have given different targets to districts, Pulwama has a target of 30 hectares of land in different zones,” he said, adding that under the scheme they will provide 50 percent under the scheme.
He said that traditional apple trees bear fruit at a later stage around after 15 years while the high-density apple bears fruit second year of the plantation.
“High-density apples also yield a maximum number of high-grade apples which is around 80 percent against 30 percent in traditional apples,” he said.
He said that he was informed by Chief horticulture officer Pulwama about the programme and he visited the spot where he planted some trees himself. He said that the budget for one hectare is rupees 39,38,000. “Half of this amount, which is 50 percent will be covered under subsidy,” he said.