Bani apple finds no buyers

Shiv Kumar PadhaIt is globally acknowledged that the whole of Jammu &Kashmir state abounds in natural beauty and is known as the orchard of Asia, where Ladakh is known for its unique geographical characteristics, topography and the kind of world famous dry fruit, Jammu and Kashmir regions are known for thick grooves of forests, vast stretches of snow, rattling brooks, high pine trees, lush green meadows and pastures, springs with crystal clear water, snow clad mountain peaks and the seasonal fruit like apples, baggu gosha, cherry, khobani, peaches and saffron etc.
So far as the production of the seasonal fruit like apple and gosha etc. is concerned Bani area is in no way behind its counterpart Kashmir .Both Kashmir and Bani apples are known for their crispiness' juiciness and sweetness with the difference that the Kashmir apple looks lustrous, shining, healthy and are marketed in standard packing which fetch good returns for apple growers, whereas Bani apple looks very rough, ugly, spotted and full of scars because they suffer from many diseases like canker which is transmitted through the bark of the tree and cause sunscald or fire blight infection, fruit spots and rots where fungi cause superficial spots or specks on fruit surface, chlorosis - a common disorder of apples, crabapple and mountain ash which leave the leaves yellow and small, root injury and damage caused due to the root disturbance upsetting the supply of air and water needed for the tree. No doubt these diseases do not affect the eating quality of the fruit, they, however, are not presentable before the customers in the market. It seems very humorous that on the one hand, state government is vociferously clamouring to boost the fruit specially the apple industry in the state and, on the other, it is totally neglecting the quality improvement of Bani area apples. Does it mean that the popular state government is committed and serious about the development of apple orchards of Kashmir only? It is very strange that there is no such agency in Bani area which can educate the apple growers about the common diseases of the apples, their treatment and use of proper and timely use of pesticides. In the absence of guidance and expert assistance from the horticulture department the apple crop of Bani is completely left at the mercy of God from blossoming to the fruit bearing stage. During the development of the fruit on the tree no care is taken of the fruit and the tree .
This crop is reared like the crop of maize, wheat and other cereals .The apple growers of Bani area are totally ignorant about the common and special kind of diseases which destroy the apple crop on the tree. Due to the lack of knowledge about the common disease of the apple crop and their treatment, the growers take their yield wrapped in gunny bags to the nearby markets of Basohli, Mahanpur and Billawer where their produce of apples is sold at throw away price rendering heavy losses to the apple growers. It will be worth mentioning here that these trees have been brought by some enthusiastic persons of Bani area from Himachal Pradesh and were planted about 20 years ago. Since then no government agency did take interest in apple crop of Bani nor new trees of superior quality have apples been planted in the area, with the result, the orchard owners are still harboring upon the old techniques of nurturing the apple crop in the area.
On the contrary, the apple industry of Kashmir gets VIP treatment at the hands of Jammu and Kashmir government. In order to bring Kashmir applie apples on international standards, Government provides them all facilities and provides them pesticides and other items on war footing basis. The government advances loans to the apple growers for standardized packing, arranges for the transport of apples to the remotest markets of the country and that of the world, provides insurance facility for the apple orchards. The whole apple season of Kashmir is monitored strictly in terms of transportation of the produce and its marketing.
It is encouraging that in spite of discrimination of apple crop of Bani by the concerned departments of the state, it is still competing with the apple industry of Kashmir and that of Himachal Pradesh. The farmers and owners of apple orchards of Bani are hard working and intelligent, a small assistance by the horticulture department of the state can result into the flourishing and excellent quality of the apples in the state. It is therefore, emphasized upon the state government to
* Take along all the segments of the state together in the matter of progress and development.
* Pay attention to the apple crop in the Jammu segment in general and Bani area in particular. Appoint an expert team to look after the apple crop provide assistance in the treatment of disease of the apple crop and suggest curative measures in order to get good quality apples.
* Appoint team of experts and scientists and establish a research laboratory in Bani area to develop new species of apples and monitor the growth of apples from blooming stage to the harvesting.
* Help provide cheap loans to the apple growers of Bani in order to enable them purchase medicines and pesticides for the protection of their crop.
* Provide them with sophisticated type of packing devices and market for selling their produce easily and with dignity.
* Special economical packages and funds aimed at the development of the various kinds of orchards in the state be made available to the farmers of Bani area so that they can start their vocation a fresh and become economically self sufficient.
It is high time and also the demand of the hour to consider the problems of the apple growers of Bani area seriously and device some means and strategy so that the apples of Bani and that of the valley can attract a good number of customers in the national and international markets.

Apple crop in Kashmir

By Sarbjit Singh Reen

Apple crop in Kashmir is still safe as global warming effects r coming late here. The average height of Kashmir valley 1850 meters, and location are the main plus points. Had it been closer to equator, may be having same height, then the situation would have been more alarming. We are very lucky in that way almighty has provided very good location and height to paradise on earth. Is there something to worry? Let’s check it out.

Himachal Pardesh

According to G C Kuniyal, senior scientist at the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Himachal unit at Mohal, "In Kullu valley alone, it's become warmer on an average of 0.9 degree celsius from 1965 to 1998. In 1965, the apple belt was found at a height of 1000m above sea level. Now, it's at 2000m above sea level." Apple, which was grown at Bajaura (1000m) area some years back, can now be found only in Katrain (2000m) near Manali." Warmer climate has made it harder to get a decent crop in the lower and middle elevation belt and apple orchards have shifted to higher altitudes to find a cooler place to grow. Bajoura, located in the lower part of the Kullu valley, produced good quality apples about a few decades ago. Today, there is a general consensus that the lower limit of apples has now reached Raison about 30 kilometers up the valley. Similarly in the Kotgarh region, villages in the middle elevation belt produced some of the finest apples during the 1970s and early 1980s. Today farmers here are struggling to replace their orchards. A similar trend is noticed elsewhere in the state.

Japan

Most of apple trees have been cultivated in the northern part of temperate zone in Japan, since they are suitable for planting in cold climates. The crops produced in a cold area may be greatly influenced by warming. This study is undertaken to assess the impact of global warming on the production of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) in Japan. The temperature ranges assumed to be appropriate for the cultivation of apple are 6-14°C on annual mean temperature and 13-21°C on mean temperature from April to October, respectively. It was predicted that the favorable regions to cultivate apples will gradually move northward. All the plains of southern Tohoku in 2040's and central Tohoku 2236 meters above sea level in 2060's will be unfavorable for apple cultivation, while most of regions in Hokkaido 1600 meters above sea level will be suitable by 2060's. Many parts of the current apple producing districts in Japan will be possibly unfavorable by 2060's. Therefore, global warming will greatly affect the cultivation environment of apples in Japan by the middle of the 21st century.

Pennsylvania

Adams county is the heart of apple growing. Macintosh, Granny Smith, and other popular varieties flourish here. Apples are among several types of fruit which require a certain number of hours of winter chill to properly set fruit. The report notes that between 800 to 1,200 chilling hours are necessary for most types grown in the state. If the higher-emissions scenario continues, only about 50-60% of the winters in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania, including Adams County, would have 1,000 chilling hours by mid-century. By late century, only the northern-most counties would have enough cold hours to produce apples.

From here we can predict that apple belts will shift if we don’t address this problem of global warming very seriously. we should also make global warming impact assessment teams in Kashmir to access the trend of rising temperatures so that future strategies should be worked out and new cultivars( low chilling) if to be planted can be properly recognized and trails can be made well in time. Two year from Dec3 to Dec 6 a seminar regarding the introduction of new low chilling varieties was conducted in Himachal and foreign delegates from Newzeland and other countries participated in that. In Kashmir as well things r changing, rice belts of Kashmir r shifting to apple cultivation. This is the first symptoms secondly canker attack apple trees has increased many folds , this is an another serious symptoms.