Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Jul 29: South Kashmir’ Shopian has recorded a 20 percent surge in apple production last year, thanks to the upgradation of infrastructure by the government.
As per the economic survey 2023-24, apple production in Shopian has increased 20 percent last year especially after the government built pack sheds and irrigation arteries for the growers.
The enhancement In the production happened within a year after the Central government approved an “Apple Cluster” for Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district under the Cluster Development Programme.
The Shopian apple cluster envisages development of Shopian apple on three verticals including pre-production-production, post-harvest management and value addition and logistics, marketing and branding to make it globally competitive. The project is estimated to cost Rs 135.23 crore.
The growers credited the success to the government’s initiatives taken under the apple cluster and One District One Product (ODOP).
“The granting of apple cluster status to Shopian district proved beneficial for the growers in boosting their production. Apart from the existing ones, new apple orchards have come up in the district. Farming is being done on modern lines with proper guidance from the horticulture department,” said Mohammad Amin Peer, President of Fruit Mandi Shopian.
He said the district is witnessing major apple plantations by the farmers, which subsequently improves the production in the district.
The growers said there will be further improvement in the production in coming years. “We are going to witness a major upward trend in the production of Shopian apples. The quality of apples is also going to be even better as the new apple orchards are coming up with different and exotic varieties,” Peer added.
To make the district a hub for exports, the Jammu and Kashmir administration last year enlisted Shopian apple among 75 products selected from 20 districts under the One District One Product Scheme for its huge potential for exports.
The government provided various facilities to the farmers including irrigation and cold storage to get better rates of the produce.
