The weather in Kashmir valley this year witnessed a long dry spell with a rain deficit of almost 70 per cent, therefore, hitting the backbone of UT’s economy – horticulture. Most of the regions in the valley had already given up an idea of sowing paddy this year after the winters too went dry.
This continuous dry season has triggered a massive water shortage even with people battling to get uninterrupted drinking water from traditional streams, springs and other sources.
The water level in the lifeline of Kashmir – Jehlum also declined beyond expectations and some people claim that this depletion of waters in the river has been spotted for the first time in many decades. Going by the facts and situation arising in Kashmir over the time, the water scarcity is real and the challenges ahead are certain.
Amid such emerging challenges, the Jammu and Kashmir government has come up with an ill thought of introducing high density apple orchards which require huge water supplies to sustain and bear early fruits. People across the region without understanding the future consequences and requirements for setting up such orchards are replacing it with traditional apple trees.
The traditional apple orchards despite being proven for ages and standing against all weather conditions are steeply declining now. Amidst the ongoing weather conditions with imminent water crisis awaiting in future, the idea of setting up high density apple orchards deserves yet again a study. Traditional orchards deliver crops a bit late but the ongoing research may help to improve its quality and conditions and bring down its age for fruit bearing.
In case, if we continue to rely on high density orchards and at the same time the water crisis hits Kashmir, especially long dry spells, the HDP may not stand while traditional root stock have capacity and behave as weather resistant to a large extent.
So our scientists and horticulture department must focus on traditional root stock and improve its efficiency instead of entirely replacing it with HDP. Horticulture is the lifeline of Kashmir contributing around Rs 15000 crores to state exchequer. We can’t afford to put this economy at risk as long as we have solid and concrete alternatives available.
