Initiatives
High Density Plantation (Apple) Scheme
- High Density Plantation Programme has been formulated.
- Funding pattern 50:50 (Govt : Farmer)
- Plan to cover an area of 50 Ha’s in phase-I (2016-2017).
- 40 Ha’s under private sector and 10 Ha’s under public sector.
- 1.21 lacs plants imported and planted for post entering Quarantine conditions.
- 67 beneficiaries (803 kanal land) identified in 10 Districts.
- Fields/Land being prepared for planting.
- 2.22 lac clonal root stock worth Rs. 1.72 crore imported from Netherland for multiplication.
- Clonal root stock planted at following locations:
- 1.62 lacs at ACHD, Zainapora Shopian.
- 0.10 lacs at CITH, Rangreth Budgam.
- 0.50 lacs at SKAUST, Kashmir.
Centers of Excellence
- Two Centers of excellence (CoE), one at Jammu and other at Kashmir are being established.
- These Centres Shall have facilities for production of high quality fruit plants, micro irrigation, high-tech greenhouse technology, Tissue culture labs, bio-control labs and weather forecasting units etc.
- These Centers will showcase and disseminate innovative technologies for preserving germ-plasm and multiplication of improved and high yielding varieties etc.
Rejuvenation/Plant Replacement
- A major challenge in the Horticulture sector is rejuvenation of old orchards.
- Replacement of old/senile/flood affected orchards by High Density Plants under PMDP.
- Nurseries are being upgraded to ensure the availability of quality plant material
Infrastructure
- Establishment of Cold Store/CA Stores under PPP mode in Terminal/ Satellite Fruit & Vegetable Markets in 1st phase.
- Two mobile Soil Testing Labs, one stationed at Anantnag and other at Baramulla have been pressed into services which are catering to the requirement of Southern and Northern districts of Kashmir Valley.
- One mobile Testing Lab stationed at Jammu for catering to Jammu Province requirements.
- One Pesticide Testing Lab each for Jammu and Srinagar are being established.
- Additional accommodation at Kissan Ghar, Jammu & New Delhi are under construction
- Const. of Kissan Ghar at Raj Bagh Srinagar.
- Cold Store and Kissan Ghar at Kolkatta under construction.
Walnut Production/Sales and problems being faced
- Walnut growers/traders facing stiff competition due to liberal imports from other countries especially California (USA).
- A committee headed by Vice Chancellor SKUAST, Kashmir constituted to suggest short term/long term measures.
Villages
The Department is establishing two Mango villages, one apple village, one Apricot village and Two Peacanut Villages.
| S.No. | Village | Location |
| 1 | Mango | Khour-Mallapoda |
| Akhnoor-Sungli | ||
| 2 | Apple | Khiram |
| 3 | Apricot | Hardas |
| 4 | Peacanut | Rajouri (Saskote, Manjakote, Doongi). |
| Poonch (Mankote, Sagra, Gani, Harni, Hari, Bainch, Ajote, Degwar |
The Department is focusing on development of the sector by way of rejuvenation, High Density Plantation, mechanization to increase the production, productivity, improvement in quality and also to provide best marketing infrastructure to the growers/farmers and traders within and outside the State.
