High-density
apple plantation to transform state’s economic profile of State: Veeri
ANANTNAG, DECEMBER
09: Minister for Revenue, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction,
Abdul Rehman Veeri today inaugurated the State’s first Model Apple Village at
Khiram Sirhama in Bijbehara.
The major
components of the Model Apple Village include a shift from traditional to
high-density apple plantation, digging of borewells, construction of sheds in
orchards, rejuvenation of old and saline orchards with new varieties, providing
farm machines like tractors weeders, sprayers, setting up of juice preservation
plant, grading, packing training to farmers.
District Development
Commissioner Anantnag, Muhammad Younis Malik, Director Horticulture Kashmir,
Deputy Director Horticulture Muhammad Yousuf Dar and other senior officers were
also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the
occasion, the Minister urged the fruit growers to shift to high-density
practices to enhance apple production for greater economic returns in the
field.
Speaking
further about the prospects of high-density apple orchards in the state, the
Minister said that it will change the economic profile of Kashmir.
He also asked the
officers to send some orchardists of the area to foreign tours where they can
witness prospects of high-density apple orchards and use those better prospects
here in Kashmir.
Recalling the
interest of late Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in the high-density
plantation, the Minister said that he was very keen to introduce high-density
apple plantation in the valley for better economic prospects for the
orchardists of the Kashmir.
Veeri said
that it is important to adopt newer techniques and best practices to survive
the onslaught of emerging markets in and outside the country.
He stressed on the
farmers to adopt better grading, packing practices for selling the product at
better rates in the competitive marketing world.
The horticulture
department will set up this Model apple village on a pilot basis and will
initially cover 80 kanals of land in the village at a cost of Rs 5 crore.
Deputy Director
Horticulture Kashmir, Muhammad Yousuf Dar said that they are hopeful of success
of the project and will be replicated in all apple producing areas in future as
well.
He said that demo
plants would be set up in the village where orchardists and horticulture
department would have regular interaction during the development of
high-density apple.
On the occasion,
Veeri also distributed subsidy cheques among orchardists for the purchase of
various machines.
The inauguration ceremony coincided with the
awareness camp regarding high-density plantation for the orchardists of the
area.
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