Kinnaur’s dry fruit production drops due to rise in apple farming
Dr. Ashwani Kumar, an expert from the horticulture department, explained on Tuesday that newly imported apple varieties have a better yield.
Horticulture specialist Dr. Ashwani Kumar said Tuesday that freshly imported apple cultivars yield more.
Kinnaur farmers say apples are replacing dry fruits and organic products, which were once popular at the Lavi Fair. Traditional Kinnauri items are disappearing as more people grow new apple kinds, said Rampur dry fruit traders who sell their goods after the fair. Atul Negi from Leo hamlet in Kinnaur, who has gone to the fair for years, used to carry 12-15 quintals of apricots and 3-4 quintals of almonds.
He barely brought one quintal of apricots and 30 kg of almonds this year. Due to production decline, prices are rising and producers are losing money, he said. Kinnauri dry fruits such almonds, apricots, chilgoza, raj mash, peas, kala jeera, and shilajit were available during the fair in fewer amounts than prior years. These products were too expensive for most people to buy.
Rispa village farmer Yashwant Singh said he has been selling dry fruits and organic items at the market for four to five years. This year, fewer clients showed interest in his wares. He said more individuals are planting apples on unoccupied land. Experts say dry fruit cultivation is laborious and expensive, but new apple varieties grow quickly and produce well. Dry fruit space is diminishing.
Tuesday, horticultural specialist Dr. Ashwani Kumar stated that newly imported apple varieties yield more and start delivering fruit within four to five years, giving growers faster returns. Several farmers switch to apple growing each year, he said. Agriculture Department subject specialist Dr. Rajesh Jaiswal said farmers are being subsidized to grow traditional products. They are nutritious and medicinal, which is good for health, he said.
