Kashmir's Apple Supremacy

Srinagar, Jan 1: The Kashmir Valley has maintained its position as India's leading apple producer, with production reaching an impressive 2.03 million metric tonnes. Baramulla district emerged as the top producer with 4,94,135 metric tonnes, followed by Shopian with 2,63,677 metric tonnes and Anantnag contributing 2,61,964 metric tonnes. The Jammu division added 34,239 metric tonnes to the total apple production, primarily from its highland districts.

The region's pear cultivation has shown significant success, producing 90,023 metric tonnes, with the Kashmir division accounting for 65,681 metric tonnes. Cherry production, almost exclusively from Kashmir, reached 21,800 metric tonnes, while plum and apricot production stood at 18,692 and 12,561 metric tonnes respectively.

In the Jammu division, tropical fruit production has flourished, with mango leading at 30,808 metric tonnes. The citrus fruit sector has performed remarkably well, with limes and lemons producing 12,301 metric tonnes, Kinnow oranges at 6,998 metric tonnes, and sweet oranges yielding 5,694 metric tonnes. Guava production reached 8,582 metric tonnes, while litchi cultivation yielded 1,886 metric tonnes.

The dry fruit sector has demonstrated robust performance, with walnut production reaching 307,112 metric tonnes. The Kashmir division contributed 214,903 metric tonnes to this total, while the Jammu division added 92,208 metric tonnes. Almond production touched 11,209 metric tonnes, complemented by smaller but significant yields of pecanut and hazelnut at 114 and 66 metric tonnes respectively.

The department's data reveals extensive land utilization for fruit cultivation, with 252,190 hectares dedicated to fresh fruits and 92,480 hectares to dry fruits. The Kashmir division accounts for 164,326 hectares of fresh fruit cultivation, while Jammu division utilizes 87,864 hectares. For dry fruits, Kashmir and Jammu divisions contribute 51,640 and 40,840 hectares respectively.

Exotic fruit cultivation has gained momentum, with kiwi production reaching 120 metric tonnes and the newly introduced dragon fruit yielding 11.55 metric tonnes. Fig cultivation has shown promise with 2,729 metric tonnes of production. Indigenous varieties have maintained their significance, with wild apricot, wild olive, and wild sandy pear producing 495, 437, and 425 metric tonnes respectively.

The comprehensive data indicates significant economic implications for the region, supporting thousands of families involved in fruit cultivation and related activities. The sector's success spans from traditional apple orchards in Kashmir to tropical fruit plantations in Jammu, demonstrating the effective utilization of varied agro-climatic conditions across the union territory.

As the sector continues to grow, the focus remains on improving productivity, expanding exotic fruit cultivation, and strengthening the dry fruit segment, positioning Jammu & Kashmir as a major contributor to India's horticultural production.