Linking apple orchards in the mountain State to tourism can go a
long way in boosting the apple sales and tourism, especially during the
apple ripening period. Uttarakhand’s neigbour Himachal Pradesh is better
known as ‘Apple Country’, but the apple belt of Uttarakhand is also a
picturesque region and deserves better recognition.
The State Government, over the last few years, has been making
efforts to link the apple belt with tourism and “Apple Day” is
celebrated during the ripening season annually to draw the attention of
visitors from various parts India and abroad.
The apple season in Uttarakhand coincides with the Yatra season when
the various Yatra routes see a constant movement of pilgrims to Char
Dham shrines. The sight of apples ripening on the trees and the fruit
available in markets along the routes has established a link in the
minds of the visitors between Uttarakhand and apples. Horticulture can
play an important role in promoting tourism. The horticulture department
at Chaubatia (Kumaon) came up with the slogan “Apple is the Food of the
Gods”, keeping in mind the image of Devbhumi. Chaubatia near Almora has
beautiful gardens and apple orchards with a commanding view of the
Himalayas. The Government Garden and the Fruit Research Centre here are
places of attraction for tourists. Apples are also grown in Dhanaulti,
Kanatal and Chamba in the Tehri district and this “fruit belt” needs
more attention. This fruit belt, named “Chamba-Mussoorie fruit belt”
was created in the 1970s when forest land was leased out by the
Government for apple orchards.
The main problem here is that this is also a hailstorm region and
mostly, alternate years yield good crops. Hail spots the apples and
decreases their market value. Harsil and Naugaon in Uttarkashi have good
apple crops.
Apples of various varieties are ripening these days and orchard
owners feel that the Government needs to give a fresh look to its
policies on apple cultivation in order to fully utilise the space and
climate of the State. Apples in the State were introduced in the
pre-Independence era and the popular variety was the Red Delicious.
Harsil apples in Uttarakashi introduced by Pahari Wilson are in great
demand. Wilson is remembered for many things including the large, juicy,
red apples he introduced to this region. Known as “Wilson Apples”,
these are sold by locals to travellers and pilgrims on their way to
Gangotri shrine.
However, things are not all hunky-dory for apple farmers in
Uttarakhand. Sudden rain and hailstorms can upset calculations.
Moreover, the quality of apples is affected if there is a hailstorm
while the fruits are unripe. There are inadequate storage units in the
mountains where apples grow.
Some year ago, the State horticulture department introduced American
hybrids and new techniques. These imported varieties are rich in taste,
virus and disease-resistant. These include the Star King and Top Red
grown at a height of 6,500 ft and the Red Chief, Organ Spur, Scarlet
Gala, Red Fuji and Vale Spur suitable for cultivation at 5,500-6,000 ft.
These varieties can bear six to seven kilos of fruit in a short span of
time and the production increases manifold.
It would be apt to mention here a successful cooperative initiative
called The Apple Project launched by Shri Jagdamba Samiti (SJS), an NGO
led by LP Semwal.
SJS launched this project in Uttarakhand in order to provide the
small farmers in a market-oriented agribusiness get further marginalised
mainly due to the dominance of mandis, a chain of well-organised
intermediaries who control the entire process from credit supply for
farm inputs to transportation and marketing of produce.
The project strives to create a model of business-driven,
decentralised, independent and small-scale production with coordinated
arrangements for processing and marketing by providing technical,
managerial and investment support to enable farmers collectively to move
up the value chain. With better planning and policy making on the part
of the Government and coordination between the growers and the
government, there is no reason why the Devbhoomi cannot become as famous
for its apples as it is for its Gods.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/dehradun/85290-time-for-uttarakhands-prized-apples-to-ripen.html
No comments:
Post a Comment