The situation of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) farmers is now better than ever due to the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015.
Under the package, the horticulture department has set up apple orchards in the Union Territory’s Anantnag district to help increase the apple production and has lent a helping hand to an apple grower by giving him high-density apple plants under the PMDP which provides them nets, borewells and other facilities on subsidy.
These high-density plants yield good results within two years of planting as compared to the traditional plants that give limited apple production even after ten years occupying large space.
Under the scheme, the government promotes high-density plantations, phasing out old plantations which have completed their economic life, giving farmers a subsidy of 50 per cent on re-plantation.
The horticulture department also provides technical support to apple growers for the scientific layout of these new plantations.
Asif Hussain Bodha, Horticulture Officer, Anantnag, said: “We have set up an apple orchard here. This land was barren. The other day, I was passing by this area when Shakeel Ahmad (an apple grower) met me. I told him about the project, he too was interested, so we established this orchard here. Traditional farming yields only 11-12 MT per hectare while we aim towards 30 MT per hectare with the help of this project. I think we are moving towards achieving this goal.”
“This scheme falls under PMDP in which we have given 90 per cent subsidy in plant material and after that, the department has given him tractor and a borewell on subsidy. This project helps earn a good amount of income,” he added.
On the other hand, Shakeel Ahmad said, “The horticulture department has given me this idea and it is giving me 50 per cent subsidy in my investment and 90 per cent subsidy on plant material. The horticulture department staff visited regularly and guided me on what has to be done.”
“I planted apples in June 2018 and had good productivity in August last year. I just want to say that more people should come forward to join the project which will help grow our apple farming industry,” he said.