For the first time, Horticulture Department Kashmir is growing climbers of a fresh fruit, Kiwi, in the Valley; the fruit sells 15 times costlier than apple in the market.
Kiwi Guide
More details at : http://jkmpic.blogspot.com/2016/12/kiwi-fruit-cultivation-in-india.html
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| Kiwi Garden J&K |
After finding the local climatic conditions conducive for the growth of the fruit, the horticulture department has decided to sell five thousand Kiwi plants to the growers in the first phase of the cultivation. The department will start distribution of the plants from coming February.
“Climate of valley is very conducive for the growth of Kiwi and we have already tested the plant in the local environs. The plants have emerged nicely in the soil, bearing fruit in bumper and leaving no problem in ripening,” said Director Horticulture Kashmir, M S Qasba.
Kiwi is originally native of China from where it has spread to New Zealand, which has climatic conditions that are almost in sync with the climatic conditions of the valley. In keeping with the temperate climate of the valley, the experts broached the idea of testing the fruit here, which convinced the experts to go ahead with the mission of producing Kiwi in Valley.
While Kiwi is a perennial plant with broad leaves on its branches, it has a rapid rate of transpiration and requires irrigation frequently for its growth and development. In the months of June and July, Kiwi will require irrigation from 4 to 5 times.
“Due to higher transpiration rate, the Orchards need to be irrigated many a time to avoid loss of growth of the fruit. We have already advised the growers not to grow the fruit in un-irrigated fields,” said the Director, adding that the fruit starts ripening in the month of August and is harvested in October.
After 4th year of its transplantation, Kiwi starts bearing fruit and a full grown plant yields upto 50 kgs. The potato size Kiwi is expected to outshine the valley’s popular fruit apple as it sells at a much higher rate than apple in the market.
“One Kilogram of Kiwi sells in the market from rupees 200 to 300 as compared to apple which sells at the rate of rupees 20 to 40. This in itself attests the fact, how profitable it is to grow the exotic variety of fresh fruit in the valley,” said Qasba .
As the fruit will engender a diversification of fresh fruit, the Horticulture Department is optimistic that its cultivation will be beneficial for the fruit industry.
