Imagine Kashmiri apple with a French twist!
A French based company is all set to establish high yielding Apple plant nursery in Kashmir.
Based on high value genetic stock suitable to climate of Kashmir, the nursery will be set by French Company FAITS after tying up with a local entrepreneur.
Mare-Andre, a representative of FAITS, gave a detailed presentation to Director Horticulture Kashmir and other officers of the department here on Tuesday.
An official spokesman said the representative assured the department that the company will use all their expertise in establishing fruit plant nurseries together with research and development facilities in order to pass on the benefits of high standard fruit plant production to the growers community in Kashmir.
The Director Horticulture Kashmir assured the French delegation that all necessary assistance will be provided for establishing plant nursery in Kashmir.
The decision to set up Indo French apple nursery comes at a time when Chinese proposal of zero import duty on apples under the ambit of a free-trade pact of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has sounded a death knell for the Rs 7000 crore fruit Industry of Kashmir.
Nineteenth and 20th round of RECP meeting were held in Hyderabad and Philippines in July and November last year respectively. The trade pact is likely to be finalized this year. Experts say if Chinese proposal of free trade is implemented than its apple will kill the local fruit industry.
Horticulture is the mainstay of Kashmir’s economy. More than 3.38 lakh hectares of land is under the fruit cultivation in the valley. Of which 65 per cent comprise of the apple orchards.
Kashmir valley is one of the largest producers of apple in the country with production touching 19.43 lakh metric tonnes in 2015-16.
The apple production in 2014-15 was 11.70 lakh metric tonnes only given the devastating floods of September 2014. Last year the apple production was more than 17.8 lakh metric tonnes in Kashmir.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kashmiri apples")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}