High-density apple trees are proving revolutionary for Kashmir growers. This year, the locally grown imported varieties of these apples are fetching record prices outside the Valley. According to traders, a kilogram of Gala variety of high-density apple is being sold at Rs 150. Growers say that even the Grade B of the variety is being sold at good rates. “We sold a Grade B of Gala at Rs 70 per kilogram locally,” said Mubashir Ahmad, a resident of Chitragam village of Shopian.

Growers, however, complain that the hail nets not provided by the government to those who planted high-density apples under a government scheme is taking a toll on their crop, as at many places the fruit was damaged due to hail storms which occurred in the months of April and May.

It reports that Kashmir so far has brought 240 ha of horticultural land under high-density apple plantation, which amounts to only 0.07 percent of the total horticulture land which is 340,000 hectares. The number of trees so far planted, according to official data, is 7,92,000, which are expected to bear 1,60,000 boxes of apple (16 kg per box).

[ Rs 100 = €1.10 ]