Dry Fruit Horticulture and Production Patterns in Highland Ecosystems: A Case of Almond and Walnut Cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract

Jammu and Kashmir state is located in north-western part of India. The region shows predominantly mountainous topography with an average elevation of more than 5700 meters above sea level. With fragile climatic regime and interconnected physiographic characteristics, the region forms a typical case of the highland ecosystem. This highland nature of the state forms the suitable characteristics for the cultivation of different agricultural products especially saffron, dry fruits, apple and basmati rice. Over the years, both dry and fresh fruits have emerged as the important contributors to the state economy and the government has come up with various schemes and programmes for the development and growth of the fruit industry. Jammu and Kashmir besides attaining prominence in fresh fruit cultivation have also emerged as a favourite destination for the cultivation of dry fruits especially almonds and walnuts. These crops occupy a significant place and are an important contributor to the state economy as the bulk of their production is exported not only to different parts of India but the world over. The present study is an attempt to study the growth patterns in the dry fruit industry of the state especially almond and walnut.

Keywords: Horticulture, Production, Temperate climate, Dry Fruits, Floods, Precipitation.