Shopian, Feb 13: A research scholar and farming activist from South Kashmir’s Shopian district strives for diversification of fruit crops among valley farmers.
Amir Manzoor, a doctorate in Mathematics and farming activist from Ramnagri village of Shopian, urges valley farmers to benefit from grape revolution of Nashik city of Maharashtra, the “grape capital of India”, for boasting highest production in the country.
Over the past couple of weeks Amir along with his two companions distributed many high density varieties of grapes from Nashik among valley farmers on a trial basis.
Amir informed Rising Kashmir that Nashik grows many grape varieties including Thompson Seedless, Tas-a-Ganesh, Sonaka, Manik Chaman, Sharad Seedless, Jumbo Seedless and Black Sonaka.
“We chose those varieties which have high probability of surviving local climate of the valley,” he said, adding that varieties like Black Cobra, White Long, RK Sonaka Green, and SSN Green were selected for distribution among farmers of Kashmir.
“These varieties have been introduced in Kashmir on trial basis,” he said, adding that Black Cobra variety offers a huge opportunity for the farmers.
He added that this black grape variety will surely revolutionise the horticulture sector of Kashmir provided it adopts to the local climate.
He said that these export oriented grape varieties will benefit valley farmers as they sell at high rates.
Amir informed Rising Kashmir that valley farmers showed an overwhelming response to these new varieties.
Zakir Ayoub, Amir’s companion, said that they distributed around 500 plants of high density seedless grapes in a single day.
The youth said that they aim to encourage fruit diversification among valley farmers so that their income is accrued through different harvest seasons.
The youth said that they want valley farmers to focus on different fruits along with apples to increase the size of their fruit basket.
Director ICAR-CITH (Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture) Srinagar, Dr. Mahendra Kumar Verma, informed Rising Kashmir that they plan to get some new grape varieties from Pune on a trial basis.
“The varieties will be studied for two years to see how they respond to the climate,” he said, adding that they will be getting these varieties by March and the results will come after two years.
