Indian Express
Sign In | Register Now
Newsletter | ePaper
Indian Express >  From The Fields > 

Almond Cracks record

Font Size
Mir Ehsan Posted: Sep 12, 2008 at 0013 hrs IST
Related Stories: Gujarat farmers grapple with shortage of power, waterTerai gives Punjab farmers a lesson in banana cultivationHimachal apple growers cash in on Amarnath land controversyUP’s farming sector cries for reformsNo Stemming The Rot in Valley
SRINAGAR, SEPtember 11 : This spring when unexpected heavy snowfall destroyed white blooms of almonds in Kashmir, a bumper harvest was the last thing on anyone’s mind.

But favourable weather conditions in mid-spring and winter soon followed and six months later, the almond yield is all set to touch 15,000 metric tonnes — the highest-ever in the Valley.

Right since the beginning of this year, almond trees across Kashmir valley were in full bloom, holding out a promise of bounteous production.

“The heavy snowfall in winters followed by pleasant spring had a good impact on the productivity of almond crop,” said Ghulam Hassan Dar, who owns a big almond orchard in Khiram village of south Kashmir.

“The almond bloom was so heavy this year that despite damages, there has been a good harvest,” he said. “After many years, the growers are experiencing such a good almond crop.”

Across the Valley, growers start plucking almonds from the first week of September. Around 16,000 to 18,000 hectares of land is under almond cultivation here.

Ads By Google
Director, Horticulture, Kashmir, M S Qasba is optimistic about a record production this year. “The conducive weather conditions are responsible for a good almond harvest this year,” he said.

“Compared to previous year’s, our estimates indicate that thousands of tonnes of more almonds will be produced in Kashmir this time around.”

Officials say the almond production was around 11, 000 metric tonnes in 2007.

Kashmir produces two varieties of almond -- hard and paper shell. While the first variety is found in every part of Kashmir, the later is grown in south and central Kashmir in abundance.

Besides, dispatching almonds to domestic markets across the country, growers have also started exporting almond kernels to different countries where it fetches handsome returns.

“We could not export almonds to international markets last year,” said Abdul Rashid Khan, an almond producer in central Kashmir's Budgam district. “This year, many growers have started exporting almond kernels to international markets.”

President, Fruit Growers and Dealers Association, Ghulam Rasool Bhat said the almond crop was wiped out last two years. “This year’s record production will compensated for our earlier losses.”

Bhat said Kashmiri growers could double their almond production if late blooming varieties were introduced. “The government, however, has so far shown no interest in introducing late blooming varieties of almond,” he added.

Ads By Google
Post Comments
Message*
Maximum characters allowed     
 
Name* Email ID*
Subject* Country*
TERMS OF USE:
The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
I agree to the terms of use.
View all Messages [ 0 ]
View all Messages [ 0 ]
Group Websites : Express India | Financial Express | Screen India | Loksatta | Kashmir Live | Biz Publications
Privacy Policy | Feedback | Site MapThe Indian Express Group | Work With Us | Adverise With Us | Contact Us© 2009 Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. All rights reserved
*Recipient(s) name *
*Recipient(s) e-mail address *
(Separate addresses by commas)
*Your Name *
*Your e-mail address *
Select your Country
Comments(optional)

The name(s) and e-mail address(es) you provide will
not be used for any purpose other than to inform the
recipient(s) of your identity. (*mandatory field)
 
Close