SRINAGAR, DEC 12: In a significant development, the horticulture sector in Kashmir is undergoing a massive transformation with the incorporation of advanced grading machines.
Serving as the backbone of the region’s economy, Kashmir’s horticulture faces various challenges, impacting around 45 lakh individuals involved directly or indirectly in production.
The Kashmir apple industry, valued at Rs 10,000 crore, annually produces 2 million tons of apples. Despite this, farmers report losses due to subpar grading and packaging of fruit boxes.
Farooq Ahmad, a fruit grower from Pulwama, highlights the positive impact of hi-tech apple grading machines on increasing farmers’ income and transforming horticulture practices.
“We used to do grading and packing of apple boxes manually and were not getting the real value of our goods. Now many apple growers have installed these hi-tech apple grading machines and are taking benefits from these machines,” he said.
Previously reliant on manual grading and packaging, Kashmiri farmers experienced losses during the transportation of apple boxes.
However, the installation of low-cost grading machines, supported by government initiatives, has enabled farmers to achieve good profits through improved packaging techniques.
The farmers who have installed these low-cost grading machines with the government’s help say they are now earning good profits due to good packaging.
“Now many apple growers have installed these hi-tech machines in various areas of Kashmir with the government’s help,” a senior government official said.
The government’s assistance in installing hi-tech machines has further contributed to this positive trend, benefiting numerous apple growers. Horticulture stands as a cornerstone of Kashmir’s economy, directly or indirectly involving seven lakh families and contributing over eight percent to Jammu and Kashmir’s GDP.
With more than 3.38 lakh hectares of land dedicated to fruit cultivation in the valley, including 1.62 lakh hectares for apple cultivation, horticulture remains a significant economic contributor.
The Horticulture Department’s senior official notes that the sector faced setbacks due to poor grading and manual packaging. However, the introduction of cold storage and advanced apple grading machines has significantly improved grading quality. The government’s provision of 50 percent subsidies for installation serves as a substantial boost for the horticulture sector.
