• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• The Hindu ePaper
• Business Line
• Business Line ePaper
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Suresh P. Iyengar

Conditions may favour apple, pear, apricot & cherry

Mumbai March 22 Heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to bring down 50-60 per cent of almond production in 2007.

"The almond crop blossomed about three weeks in advance. Snowfall at this stage is likely to damage 50-60 per cent of the expected production of 16-17 lakh tonnes," said Mr G.S. Naqash, Director (Horticulture), Kashmir.

Last year the area under almond was 15,100 hectares and production 14 lakh tonnes.

However, imports, especially from the US, are expected to keep the prices under leash. During April-December of the current fiscal, import of almond fresh or dried in shell increased to 27,308 tonnes valued at Rs 500.44 crore against 19,139 tonnes worth Rs 503 crore during the same period a year ago. Shelled almond import has been witnessing a phenomenal rise with shipments up at 5,324 tonnes, valued at Rs 136 crore, against 2,036 tonnes, valued at Rs 68.41 crore.

Beneficiaries

The heavy snowing has, however, benefited apple, cherry and pear and apricot.

"Most of the fruit-growing areas in the Valley do not have proper irrigation system. The recent snowfall has not only ended the immediate worries of the growers but also helped recharge groundwater table," said Mr Gulam Nabi, Assistant Director (Horticulture), Jammu.

In 2005-06, Jammu and Kashmir reported an income of Rs 1,600 crore from fresh fruits and Rs 300 crore from dry fruits.

Over five lakh families are involved in the farming process and more than 27 lakh growers undertake fruit cultivation in the State. Kashmir apples are known worldwide for both variety and size.

Essential element

"The snowfall is essential for the qualitative growth of apple as it adds to size, colour and juice content," said a trader.

Apple farming is done on about 40 per cent of the total area under fruit and accounts for 90 per cent of the State's total fruit production.

Walnut, in which the State virtually has a monopoly, covers nearly 18,000 hectares.

There has been heavy snowfall in the fruit belt in Budgam, including Charar-i-Sharief, Zinpanchal, Tilsoora Pakherpora, Shopian, Pinjora Kashdoora, Saida Pora, Kelar and Ahrabal.

Prices firm

Despite the crop being affected by snowfall, almond (gurbandi) prices in New Delhi have declined to Rs 390 a kg currently from Rs 400 in January.

Apple prices in the wholesale markets of Maharashtra increased to Rs 1,658 a quintal in February against Rs 1,370 in January, despite expectations of a bumper output from Jammu.

Prices of pears (dry) in Madhya Pradesh went up from Rs 1,371 a quintal in January to Rs 1,455 in February.

Walnut prices rose to Rs 8,689 a quintal in February from Rs 8,007 in January. Cherry in Gujarat was quoted at Rs 1,285 a quintal in February.

More Stories on : Horticulture/Fruits & Vegetables | Climate & Weather

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Almond production hit by heavy snowfall in J&K

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line