Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Insights on Golden Delicious Apple Cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir

The Golden Delicious apple, celebrated for its sweet flavor, crisp texture, and golden-yellow skin, stands as a cornerstone of commercial horticulture, valued for its versatility in fresh consumption and processed products like cider, sauces, and desserts. During a visit to the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K) in Srinagar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, interacted with apple and saffron farmers, as well as budding agricultural scientists, to gain insights into the region’s horticulture sector, which also encompasses crops like walnuts and berries. These discussions highlighted the prominence of the Golden Delicious apple in Jammu and Kashmir’s agricultural landscape. A single Golden Delicious tree can produce 150 to 250 fruits, each weighing approximately 150 grams, yielding 22.5 to 37.5 kilograms per tree. In a four-hectare orchard with around 80,000 trees, this translates to a potential harvest of 1,800 to 3,000 metric tons, typically collected in October when the apples reach peak ripeness. To maintain high-quality fruit, growers employ selective thinning, retaining only the strongest “king” fruit and one additional fruit per cluster of five, removing the rest to minimize nutrient competition and ensure uniform, market-ready apples of about 150 grams each. This practice, as shared by farmers during Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s visit, prevents tree stress and enhances fruit size and flavor, crucial for securing premium prices. The farm-gate price of Golden Delicious apples is approximately ₹75 per kilogram, with market prices potentially doubling, underscoring the crop’s economic significance. Conversations at SKUAST-K revealed challenges such as pest management, diseases like apple scab, and irrigation needs, emphasizing the importance of research in boosting productivity. To address these issues and support farmers, Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the Government of India’s initiative to establish a ‘Clean Plant Centre’ in Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at providing high-quality, disease-free planting material to enhance the production of apples and other horticultural crops. Farmers’ suggestions for adopting precision agriculture and integrated pest management further highlighted opportunities for innovation. With its high yield, strategic cultivation practices, and strong market demand, the Golden Delicious apple remains a vital contributor to the region’s economy. Through initiatives like the Clean Plant Centre and the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the collaboration between farmers, researchers, and policymakers promises to drive sustainable growth in Jammu and Kashmir’s horticultural sector, ensuring prosperity for local communities and strengthening India’s position in global markets.