Growers in Kashmir are getting into kiwifruit in a diversification move away from the traditional apple crops of the region.
Kiwis were introduced to the region in the 1950s, but only recently has interest in exotic crops created a viable demand for it.
Currently only green kiwifruits are in production, but there are plans to introduce golden varieties also.
A farmer in South Kashmir area of Pulwama district, Mahmood Khan, who had taken up cultivation of exotic fruits more than a decade back, said, "We started growing kiwi on experimental basis some 9 years ago. There were hardly any buyers for it then. But our patience has paid off, as now, the demand for it has risen in fruit markets of India, Pakistan, Gulf, and other middle-east countries. It fetches good returns in local market also and tourists also like to buy these."
Availability of Kiwi planting material
More details at : http://jkmpic.blogspot.in/2017/11/kiwi-plantation-in-uttarakhand-india.html
Kiwis were introduced to the region in the 1950s, but only recently has interest in exotic crops created a viable demand for it.
Currently only green kiwifruits are in production, but there are plans to introduce golden varieties also.
A farmer in South Kashmir area of Pulwama district, Mahmood Khan, who had taken up cultivation of exotic fruits more than a decade back, said, "We started growing kiwi on experimental basis some 9 years ago. There were hardly any buyers for it then. But our patience has paid off, as now, the demand for it has risen in fruit markets of India, Pakistan, Gulf, and other middle-east countries. It fetches good returns in local market also and tourists also like to buy these."
Availability of Kiwi planting material
More details at : http://jkmpic.blogspot.in/2017/11/kiwi-plantation-in-uttarakhand-india.html
