By: Tawheed Parvaiz Bhat

Kashmir, with its temperate climate, has long been celebrated as the “fruit bowl” of India. The region’s fertile lands produce a variety of temperate fruits like apples, peaches, apricots, pears, strawberries, plums, cherries, and dry fruits like walnuts and almonds. Kashmiri apples, in particular, are renowned globally for their taste and quality, contributing 78% of India’s annual apple production, which amounts to approximately 25-26 lakh metric tonnes. The apple industry forms the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, with a significant portion of the population engaged in horticulture-related activities.

Over the decades, the increasing demand for Kashmiri apples has led farmers to convert not just agricultural land but also residential areas into apple orchards. According to recent data, nearly 50-60% of horticultural land in Kashmir is now occupied by apple orchards. The introduction of modern apple varieties like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Royal Gala, among others, has further incentivized farmers to focus on apple production. However, these varieties, being non-native, are highly prone to diseases, necessitating the extensive use of pesticides such as........

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