Young farmers from district Annantnag are showing interest in Hazzle nut, ultra-density apple cultivation

Masroor Ahmad

Anantnag: Horticulture Department is setting up various high crop yield plant nurseries especially ultra-high density apple cultivation and young Agro-Entrepreneurs are showing extraordinary interest in this sector. In the year 2015, the then government was keen to introduce new variety of dry fruit-Hazelnut- in cold and hilly terrain areas of the Jammu and Kashmir. Hazelnut which is known as Virin in Kashmiri language is in great demand worldwide for its medicinal value. It was believed that introduction of Hazelnut would expose the farmers to a new commercially viable product. Besides the Hazelnut orchard at Lehenwan, Vailoo and Lisser fruit plantation nurseries of ultrahigh density apple orchard set up in private sector at Bimdoora. The Hazelnut orchard laid by Horticulture Department in the year 2015 on 400 Kanals of land at Lehenvan (Mati Gawran) is a frontline demonstration plot to educating the farmers about the cultivation of Hazelnut on scientific basis. The government was planned to graft the local variant of Hazelnut high yielding varieties grown at Lehenvan demonstration plot. The horticulture department functionaries were setting up demo plantation areas in the district and allowing farmers see it for them-selves, and the department was directed to explore marketing facility of this rear dry fruit. Presently the fencing of Hazelnut orchard is already completed, construction of inspection huts at Lehenwan and Lissar fruit nurseries are on the proposal and 10 kanals of nursery land would be brought under ultra high density of apple plants as frontline demonstration plot to be imported from Europe for awareness of the fruit growers of the area. To take stock of the scope of Hazelnut cultivation in Kashmir As part of the programme “Meri Mati Mera Desh”. Horticulture Director along with the Development Officer Zone Kokernag visited the area and collect the information about the efforts being done for creating awareness among orchardists for cultivation of Hazelnut and ultra High density apple cultivation in the area. The Director also visited some private Hazelnut nurseries, interacted with orchardists and heard their suggestions and demands for better Horticulture practices in the area. The Director assured the orchardists that all efforts are being done by the government to double the farmers income and introduce new crops in Kashmir.