Kashmir’s apple crop up 5%

Kashmir’s apple sector is expanding. The country’s 2019 apple crop is estimated at almost 2 million tons, according to data from the Department of Horticulture, published in The Kashmir Monitor. This represents an increase of 100,000 tons on the previous campaign.

Kashmir’s horticultural sector has recovered well from the devastating floods of 2014, when apple production was just 1.1 million tons. Director of Horticulture Aijaz Ahmad Bhat said the government incentives and the introduction of modern technology are the main reasons for achieving the feat:

“Modern technology helped increase the production last year. Every piece of land now gives Rs 50,000 to 70,000 returns to a grower. This is motivating other people to take to apple farming. Motors, weeders and many machines are being provided to the growers at subsidised rates. We are even now providing subsidies to growers adopting high-density plantations.”