Page 31 - DIVA_4_2022

tion and ninety per cent of dry fruit pro- Jammu and Kashmir, and the annual in-
duction in India comes from J&K. come has touched over Rs 10,000 crore,
contributing 8% to Gross State Domestic
Pear, the next major fresh fruit crop is Product (GSDP). An area of 3.33 lakh hec-
grown almost throughout UT, however, the tares (2020-21) is under fruit cultivation
major share of the production base comes and production of 20.35 lakh MT was re-
from the temperate Kashmir region where corded in 2020-21. The total apple produc-
some good cultivars of the crop are grown tion in India is about 28 lakh MTs and of
with longer shelf life. The apricot crop is which 20 lakh MTs are produced by J&K.
grown almost in entire temperate areas of The government of India as well as the J&K
the UT covering all the regions. Moreover, government is keen to expand the growth
the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir of the horticulture sector and provide am-
produces more than 95% of the total coun- ple opportunities to the farmers for the es-
try’s production of commercial varieties of tablishment of agro-industries and thereby
cherries. It produces four varieties of cher- generating sufficient employment avenues.
ry — Double, Makhmali, Mishri, and Italy.
Besides, medicinal and aromatic plants flo-
According to official figures, presently 7.5 riculture, mushroom, plantation crops, and
lakh families of around 35 lakh souls are vegetables are cultivated in the UT. Apart
associated with the horticulture sector in from this, spices like Saffron and Black

W W W . D I VA I N T E R N A T I O N A L . C H 31