APPLES
- AGRICULTURE
News:
Kashmir Valley’s growers
are anxious as import duty is relaxed on American apples
What's
in the news?
●
The Union government’s decision to relax
20% customs duty on apples imported from the U.S. at the recently concluded
G-20 summit left orchardists in the Kashmir Valley jittery.
●
The announcement has come in the wake of a
dip in apple prices this year. Kashmir’s apple industry is battling a number of
issues.
Apple:
●
Apple (Malus pumila) is an important temperate fruit.
●
However, in India the apple growing areas
do not fall in the temperate zone but the prevailing temperate climate of the
region is due to the Himalayan ranges and high altitudes.
Area
of Production:
●
In India, Apple is primarily cultivated in
Jammu & Kashmir; Himachal Pradesh; hills of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
●
It is also cultivated to a small extent in
Arunachal Pradesh; Nagaland; Punjab and Sikkim.
Ideal
Conditions:
●
The average summer temperature should be
around 21-24°C during the active
growth period.
●
It can be grown at an altitude of 1500- 2700m above the sea level. Well-distributed
rainfall of 1000-1250 mm throughout the growing season.
●
Apples grow best on well-drained, loam
soils having a depth of 45 cm and a pH range of pH 5.5 - 6.5.
Varieties:
●
Jammu
and Kashmir: Golden Delicious (Late Season), Lal
Ambri, Mollies Delicious, Starkrimson, Red June, Irish Peach, Benoni and
Tydeman’s Early
●
Himachal
Pradesh: Golden Delicious (Late Season), Red Delicious (Mid-season),
McIntosh
●
Uttarakhand,
Uttar Pradesh: McIntosh, Chaubattia Anupam
●
Tamil
Nadu: Irish Peach and Zouches Pipin (Early); KKL 1,
Carrington and Winterstein (Mid -season); Rome Beauty and Parlin’s Beauty
(late)
Propagation:
●
Grafting:
Apples are propagated by several methods viz.; whip, tongue, cleft and roots
grafting. Tongue and cleft grafting at 10-15 cm above the collar during
February-March gives the best results. Usually grafting is done at the end of
winter.
●
Budding:
Apples are mostly propagated by shield budding, which gives a high percentage
of success.
●
Rootstocks:
Most of the apple plants are grafted or budded on seedlings of wild crab
apples.
Harvesting:
●
Normally the apples are ready for harvest
from September-October except in the Nilgiris where the season is from April to
July.
●
The fruits mature within 130-150 days
after the full bloom stage depending upon the variety grown.
Top
producing countries:
1.
China
2.
European Union
3.
USA
4.
Turkey
5.
India
Top
producing states:
1.
Jammu & Kashmir
2.
Himachal Pradesh
3.
Uttarakhand
4.
Arunachal Pradesh
5.
Nagaland
6.Tamil
Nadu