GOVT DEGREE COLLEGE, BIJBEHARA

REPORT

OF

WORKSHOP

ON

POST-HARVEST MANAGEMENT OF APPLE ORCHARDS IN KASHMIR

ORGANISED

BY

DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY

IN

COLLABORATION

WITH

DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE, ANANTNAG

ON

26-NOVEMBER, 2022

AT

GOVT. DEGREE COLLEGE, BIJBEHARA, ANANTNAG (KASHMIR)

Apple is a main crop of Kashmir horticulture and is considered as backbone of our state economy. The cultivation of apples is a highly profitable and attractive economic activity as it plays an important role in the employment generation and provides employment to nearly 30 lakh people either directly or indirectly.

The UT of Jammu and Kashmir has second largest area under apple cultivation in the world but the irony is that it is not even the largest producer in the Asia and our productivity has been hovering over 10-11 MT/Hectare while as the global average is 15 MT/Hectare. Thus such

a variation in production is a worrying sign in realizing the profitable outcome for the farmers.

Over the recent past the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers has increased drastically to save the harvest from many diseases and boost the productivity but this in turn has added to input costs and has made apple trees prone to diseases.

A study by Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology has shown that the post-harvest loss in apples is about 10.39% which is second highest in fruits after Guava.

As well all know that we are living in the era of global warming and global climate change and we have witnessed its impact on apple industry in recent years. The frequency of snowfall, hail storms and gusty winds has increased in recent years. Not only this, global warming and global climate change has lead evolution to the new insect-pest infestations in our apple orchards and thus have negatively impacted apple production.

Now the question is that, what needs to be done to sustain apple industry and the apple growers. The answer lies in reducing the input costs of production and this is possible through the adoption of:

• Integrated Pest Management Technology
• Organic Farming and
• Climate resilient farming

The present workshop was aimed to inculcate in participants the knowledge of post-harvest management of apple orchards through the adoption of IPM technology, organic and climate resilient farming.

The workshop witnessed participation of 60 apple growers of the district Anantnag, students of botany, teachers and other faculty members of the college as well as officials from Department of Horticulture, Anantnag. Besides, 10 resource persons and invited speakers from the field of horticulture delivered their talks of the event.

The Chief Guest of the event was Mr. Nisar Ahmad Mir, DDC member Dachnipora and the Guest of Honour was Mr. Tassaduk Veeri, BDC member Bijbehara.  

The proceedings of the workshop were hosted by Mr. Sheikh Abdul Shakoor Assistant Professor, Botany, GDC, Bijbehara. He in the inaugural session highlighted the audience about the importance and genesis of this workshop.

The worthy principal of the college who was chief patron of the workshop welcomed the participants and resource person in his welcome speech and briefed the audience about the various infra-structural facilities available in the college for better education of students. He also stressed upon the need of organization of the workshop for betterment of our farmer community.

The scientific-session-I started with the lecture of Mr. Irshad-Ul-Islam, Subject Matter Specialist Department of Horticulture, Anantnag. He highlighted the various ways and methods of post-harvest management of apple orchards in Kashmir. He also highlighted the methods and techniques of enhancing the shelf life of apples. The lecture was followed by a a question-answer session.

The Second lecture was presented by Prof. Siraj Yousuf, Assistant Professor and Head Department of Botany, GDC, Bijbehara. He discussed on simples post-harvest approaches and methods of Scab management in apple orchards.

The scientific session-I culminated with the lecture of Ms. Lubna Aejaz Beigh District Horticulture Officer Bijbehara. She delivered her talk on initiatives and policies of Department of Horticulture in orchard management.

At the end of scientific session-I, sanction letters were distributed to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Development Program (PMDP) who have been sanctioned various garden tools by the Department of Horticulture through PMDP scheme.

The Scientific session-II started after the lunch. In the post-lunch session first lecture was delivered by Dr. Tanvir Bilal Pirzadah Assistant Professor & Head Department of Bioresources, Govt.Degree College (Women) Pulwama. He highlighted the importance of organic farming as an alternative to the conventional farming in orchard management. He also highlighted the importance of organic farming in reducing input costs in orchards vis-à-vis its importance in promoting healthy life style.

This lecture was followed by demonstration of vegetable and fruit preservation by Mr. Mohammad Arif who works as a technical assistant in the canning center Anantnag.  He briefed the audience about the preservation of fruits and vegetables.

Mr. Mudassir Shameem from Department of Horticulture presented a statistical overview of economy of Horticulture sector in Kashmir. This was followed by a demonstration lecture on pruning by Mr. Jibran Fayaz, Department of Pathology, SKUAST-Kashmir.

In the valedictory session, all the resource persons were felicitated. The outcomes of the workshop were put forward before the quorum by Dr, Bisma Malik, Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Bioresources GDC Bijbehara. She also performed the duties of rapporteur in the whole event.

The vote of thanks was presented by. Br. Sofi Zuber Head, Department of Zoology, Govt. Degree College, Bijbehara.

Orgranizing Secretary

Prof. Sheikh Abdul Shakoor

Convener

Prof. Siraj Yousuf Parray

Head Department of Botany

                                                                                                       Chief Patron

                                                                                                         Principal

Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Wani