Horticulture sector in Jammu and Kashmir :

The Horticulture is one of the important sectors of the State which undertakes the development of horticulture. The sector contributes immensely to strengthen the financial condition of the State, poverty alleviation, employment generation and is a core sector of Jammu and Kashmir agriculture. The variety of horticultural products of the State has earned world-wide fame because of its good quality and taste. The fruit crops grown in the state are apple, almonds, walnuts, pears, cherries and apricots in temperate areas and mango, citrus, litchi, papaya, guava etc. in subtropical areas. Saffron cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir is unique in the world.

Economic Benefits :

Horticultural sector contributes immensely to strengthen the financial condition of Jammu and Kashmir. This is a core sector of Jammu and Kashmir agriculture and about 4.5 lakh families are engaged in it. Around 20 per cent area of the state is under horticultural crops. Horticultural sector contributes around 5000 crores to the annual income of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Among the horticultural crops in the state apple occupies the predominant position constituting around 45 per cent of the total area under fruit crops. Horticultural activities major thrust is given in hilly areas. 

Crops Grown :

The fruit crops grown in the state are almonds, walnuts, pears, cherries and apricots in temperate areas and mango, citrus, litchi, ber, papaya, guava etc. in subtropical areas. Saffron cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir is unique in the world. The annual production of Saffron in Jammu and Kashmir ranges from 10 to 20 tonnes. The state government has made strenuous efforts to increase horticultural crops production. Incentives are given to the horticultural crops growers by the departments of the state to develop orchards in Kandi and hilly areas. Subsidy to the extent of 50% of fruit plants and inputs used by the farmer are provided. It has been observed that around 40 lakh tones of fruits are exported annually from the state. This sector contributes significantly to the economic and ecological development, employment generation, export and nutritional requirement of the people of state.

Issue of Climate Change :

Since Jammu and Kashmir is endowed with different agro-climatic conditions and topography, the scope for strengthening various commercial horticultural activities is enormous.The earth’s climate makes small adjustments so as to maintain a firm balance between the energy reaching earth surface and energy reflected out of it. Even a small rise in temperature could mean substantial changes in cloud cover and wind pattern. Some changes may enhance warming or some may counteract warming effects.  Increase in small particles of matter or liquid produced naturally or by manmade activities known as aerosols results in cooling effect. Increase in water vapour due to increase in evaporation due to high temperatures can further add to rise in warming effect. The significant change may impact horticultural crops production. Climate change results in erratic rainfall pattern, heat waves, more warm spells and crop failures. However, climate change may have some beneficial effect to a limited extent. The vulnerability of horticulture depends on both expected regional climate change and that sector’s ability to adapt to the change. The projected or anticipated increase in temperature, variability in precipitation pattern and increase in frequency of extreme weather events such as heat, cold waves, frost days, drought and floods would severely affect the production of horticultural crops. These stresses at different crop development phases in varying intensities would ultimately determine productivity and quality.

The extreme hot and cold wave conditions have been reported to cause considerable damage to many fruit crops. In perennial, crops like mango and guava, temperature is reported to have influence on flowering. Under climate change conditions there would be changes in availability of growing degree days leading to hastening of the phonological processes. Most of the subtropical fruits are grown in rain fed conditions and are vulnerable to climatic variability and drought conditions caused due to shifts in rainfall pattern and temperature fluctuations.

Thus, climate change and CO2 are likely to alter important interactions between horticultural plants and pollinators, insect-pests, diseases and weeds etc. Keeping in view the nature of crop, its sensitivity levels and the agro-ecological regions in Jammu and Kashmir, the crop based adaptation strategies need to be developed, integrating all available options to sustain productivity. To prepare ourselves for climate change and for formulating a sound action plan we must identify the gaps in information, prioritize researchable areas, and formulate concrete policies.