Parliament Question: Development of Apple Orchards and Walnut

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2692 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 04TH AUGUST, 2026 DEVELOPMENT OF APPLE ORCHARDS AND WALNUT

2692. SHRI ABDUL RASHID SHEIKH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी

be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the proposal for development of Apple Orchards and Walnut in North Kashmir to meet the global standards;

(b) the details of GI tagging and export promotion of products in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency;

(c) the details and proposal for Cold storage infrastructure in Baramulla; and

(d) the details of High-density plantations and their statistics for Baramulla constituency? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a): As per information provided by Government of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, High-Density Apple Plantation is promoted across Jammu & Kashmir, including North Kashmir, under the High-Density Plantation (HDP) Scheme of Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP). These schemes facilitate establishment of high-density orchards through adoption of quality planting material, trellis support systems, micro-irrigation, anti-hail nets, land development, plant protection measures and machinery.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring early bearing, improved fruit quality and enhanced productivity to enable growers to meet wider market requirements and global standards.

Assistance is also provided @ 40% in general area and @ 50% for Himalayan States/ UTs upto 2 hectare per beneficiary as per the approved cost norms for the expenditure on planting material and other input costs under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). This support includes high density plantation and rejuvenation of existing orchards. Support is also available for add-on components including fruit bagging, weed mats, anti-hail protection and fencing as per approved cost norms.(b): Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has undertaken several initiatives to promote exports of scheduled agricultural products from the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, including Baramulla district. These include export promotion of apples, black carrots, GI-tagged Kashmir saffron, walnuts, and almonds in international markets such as United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. Further, APEDA has organized International Buyer-Seller Meets and trade interactions in Srinagar and Jammu to connect exporters, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and overseas buyers. Financial assistance was also provided for the upgradation of the food testing laboratory at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) to strengthen testing, quality assurance and traceability infrastructure in the region. Applications for GI tag have been submitted for apple & walnut from Baramulla.

(c): Details of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Storage Units established in Baramulla under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) are given at Annexure-I.

In addition, support under the Union Territory Capital Expenditure (UT CAPEX) Budget is being provided for establishment of CA storage infrastructure in North Kashmir.

Under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), 28 Cold Storages and Cold Chain projects have been approved in Kashmir.

APEDA has extended financial support to an APEDA registered exporter for setting up of an Integrated Packhouse in Jammu and Kashmir, for processing of horticulture produce. National Horticulture Board (NHB) has released subsidy of Rs. 422.82 lakh to a CA storage Project in Baramulla district in 2023-24 (capacity 5832 Metric Ton).

(d): Year-wise statistics of area covered and beneficiaries assisted under the High- Density Plantation Programme in Baramulla constituency are given at Annexure-II.Annexure-I Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Storage Units established in Baramulla Sl. Year Name of Unit/Project Capacity (MT) No.

1 2012-13 M/s Kachroo 3,500 2 2012-13 M/s Alpine Fresh Art, Baramulla 3,000 3 2013-14 M/s H.N. Agrichain Pvt. Ltd., Baramulla 5,000 4 2018-19 M/s North Fresh Agro Cold Chain Pvt. Ltd. 5,000 5 2018-19 M/s Nundreshi 2,000

Source: State Horticulture Mission, UT of Jammu and KashmirAnnexure-II High-Density Plantation Programme in Baramulla Constituency Year Area Covered (Ha.) No. of Beneficiaries 2016-17 13.12 26 2018-19 2.183 4 2019-20 31.48 28 2020-21 51.332 64 2021-22 15.0875 30 2022-23 28.3865 45 2023-24 19.094 45 2024-25 25.927 80 2025-26 58.036 277 Total 244.646 599

Source: State Horticulture Mission, UT of Jammu and Kashmir ******