Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Aug 21: High-density apple farming is proving to be a game-changer for the apple industry in Jammu & Kashmir, with growers saying it fetches good returns.
Farmers across the valley shared their success stories with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). They expressed satisfaction with the income generated from high-density apple farming.
Introduced in the region after 2015, high-density apple varieties have quickly gained popularity among growers. Unlike traditional apple trees, which take about ten years to start bearing fruit, high-density apple trees begin producing apples just one year after planting and reach full production by the fourth or fifth year.
This early yield, coupled with a harvest season in August, helped farmers avoid the risk of damage from untimely snowfall, a common issue with traditional apple varieties that are harvested in November.
Mohammad Abbas, a farmer from Pulwama with eight kanals of high-density apple orchards, said the benefits of this farming method are clear. “High-density apple farming requires lower input and labour costs, and the apples produced are of superior quality with consistent colour and size,” he said, adding, “Varieties like Jeromine, King Roat, Gala Scarlet, Red Velox, Scarlet Spur-II, Super Chief, Redlum Gala, and Auvi Fuji are currently being grown in the region.”
According to growers, these high-density apples are commanding prices of Rs 100-140 per kg, nearly double the Rs 50 per kg rate for traditional varieties.
Shakeel Ahmad, another grower, highlighted the advantages, saying that high-density plants start yielding fruit in the first year and consistently produce large crops every year with minimal fertilizer and pesticide requirements.
The positive returns from high-density apple farming are encouraging more farmers to consider this method.
Horticulture officials told KNO that approximately 800 hectares of land in J&K have already been converted to high-density apple farming.
An official said the department plans to expand this to 5,500 hectares in the coming years. “The government is supporting this transition by offering a 50 percent subsidy to orchardists who establish or switch to high-density fruit production,” he said.
The high-density apple farming initiative was first launched in September 2015 by then J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who inaugurated the region’s first high-density apple orchard in Bamdoora, Anantnag.
Kashmir produces an average of over 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, with this figure sometimes reaching 25 lakh metric tonnes.
The apple industry is crucial to the region’s economy, directly or indirectly supporting half of Kashmir’s population and contributing about 9.5 percent to the the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP). The sector also generates approximately 8.50 crore man-days of employment annually in J&K—(KNO)
Jammu’s State Cancer Institute launches advanced Brachytherapy services
GoI-funded facility a major milestone, will provide critical cancer treatment: Secy H&ME
KNO Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 21 (KNO): The long-anticipated Brachytherapy services were officially inaugurated at the State Cancer Institute (SCI), Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu on Wednesday. The development marks a major advancement in cancer treatment capabilities for the region.
Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah played a pivotal role in making this high-end facility operational, an official informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
He said the first Brachytherapy procedure was conducted by the Radiation Oncology team, led by Prof. Ashutosh Gupta, Principal of GMC Jammu and a renowned cancer specialist.
The team from the Radiation Oncology department included Dr Rahul Sharma (Professor and Head of Radiation Oncology), Dr Sandeep Kaur (Associate Professor), Dr S.S Katoch (Assistant Professor), Mr Sahil Gupta (Senior Physicist), Miss Tinish Sehgal (Radiation Safety Officer), Mr P.A Rather (Junior Medical Physicist), Mr Sheldon Dominic (Application Specialist from Germany) and Mrs Survinder Kour Sudan, along with other supportive staff, the official said, adding that four patients were treated with Brachytherapy on the inaugural day.
Dr Deepak Kumar, Medical Superintendent of the State Cancer Institute, supervised the entire procedure.
Dr Abid on the occasion said the launch of this facility is a landmark achievement, not just for GMC Jammu, but for the entire Jammu region. “This facility will provide essential treatment and monitor cancer patients who previously had limited access to such advanced care,” he said.
The new Brachytherapy machine, procured at a cost of approximately INR 6-8 crores by the J&K Medical Supply Corporation, is the latest generation model from Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG GmbH (SagiNova). It boasts the highest NEMA sensitivity and quantitation accuracy, which enhances patient care, comfort and satisfaction.
The State Cancer Institute is a prestigious project funded by the Government of India, with an investment of INR 104 crores.
Dr Ashutosh Gupta said that Brachytherapy treatment at SCI Jammu is provided free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, further benefiting the patients in need of this critical care—(KNO)
Road accidents claimed 3 lives daily in Kashmir this year so far
Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Aug 21 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir roads continue to claim lives as more than 400 people have lost lives in road accidents till June while over 3000 got injured.
As per the figures available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), as many as 417 people have lost lives due to road accidents in the first six months of the ongoing year. During the same time, 3,894 people have got injured in road mishaps.
This suggested that nearly three persons died due to road accidents on an average daily in Jammu and Kashmir this year.
Figures also reveal that 4,200 road accident deaths have been reported over the last five years in Jammu and Kashmir, indicating 800 lives lost annually in the Union Territory.
As per officials, more deaths have occurred in the Jammu region particularly in Pir Panjal and the national highway.
Jammu regions saw some of the biggest road accidents recently. In November last year At least 39 people died and 17 others were injured after a passenger bus veered off a mountain road and rolled 300 feet down a hill onto another road in Doda.
Last month, eight family members died when a car they were traveling in fell into a deep gorge in the Daksum area of Anantnag.
Officials said, “For several years, road accidents have predominantly occurred in high-altitude areas such as Rajouri, Doda, and Poonch. In the Kashmir region, accidents are mainly concentrated on the national highway, often attributed to driver negligence and other factors.”
Officials said the traffic department was constantly raising awareness regarding road safety.
As per the Ministry of Roads and Transport, major causes of accidents on the National Highways (NHs) in Jammu and Kashmir are due to vehicle design and condition, road engineering, over-speeding, drunken driving/ consumption of alcohol and drug, driving on the wrong side, jumping the red light and use of the mobile phone during driving—(KNO)
