From Promise to Price Woes: Kashmir’s high-density apple orchards under spotlight

Shopian, Aug 25: Kashmir’s celebrated apple revolution, driven by high-density orchards, is facing its first real test. A steep 30 to 40 percent fall in the prices of early-harvested high-density varieties has triggered a heated debate among growers over whether the model remains as profitable as projected.

“This year’s price slump unsettled many,” said Izhan Javed, a prominent apple grower and trader from Shopian. “But despite the dip, high-density farming still pays off because of higher yields and better fruit quality.”

High-density orchards, where dwarf or semi-dwarf trees are planted in closely spaced rows, have rapidly spread across Kashmir in recent years. Supported under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), the system promised to maximise returns from limited land, improve quality, and modernise Kashmir’s traditional apple sector.

Tariq Ahmad, another cultivator, underlined the difference: “A hectare of high-density plantation gives 40 to 50 tonnes of fruit, while traditional orchards produce only 15 to 20 tonnes. Nearly 90 per cent of the produce is top-grade compared to just 60 percent from conventional farms.”

The economic equation, however, is more complex. High-density orchards demand higher investment upfront for imported saplings, trellising, and drip irrigation. While returns can be substantial in the long run, the immediate volatility in Apple markets has cast a shadow of uncertainty.

A horticulture department official acknowledged both the potential and the risks: “High-density orchards deliver higher productivity and early fruiting, but short-term profitability can suffer when market prices fluctuate.”

Yet many farmers remain undeterred. Basharat Ahmad, who manages a 10-kanal orchard, believes the system secures steadier incomes: “Even with lower rates, high-density farming still gives us a better deal than traditional methods.”