Apple Cultivation in Kalpa
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IOSRjournalIOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS)
Volume 20, Issue 8, Ver. II (Aug. 2015), PP 20-23
e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845.
www.iosrjournals.org
An Assessment of Apple Cultivation in Kalpa, Kinnaur District,
Himachal Pradesh
Gourab Bera
(Research Scholar, Dept. of Geography, University of Calcutta)
I.
Introduction
Apple (Maluspumila) is commercially the most important temperate fruit and is the fourth produced in
the world after banana, orange and grape. About 70 million tons of apples were grown worldwide in 2013, and
China produced almost half of this total. The United States is the second-leading producer with more than 6% of
world production. Turkey is the third largest producer, followed by Italy, India and Poland.
The area under apple cultivation in India increased by 24% from 1.95 lakh hectors. In 1991-92 to 2.42
lakh hectors. In 2001-02, although production increased by less than 1% (i.e. from 11 to 12 lakh tones). It is
mostly grown in the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Arunachal Pradesh and
Nagaland. Apple belt of the Himachal is the most important crop, accounting for about 90% of the total
horticultural production.
Study area
Himachal Pradesh is one of the ideal locations for apple cultivation, covering the districts of Shimla,
Siramour, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba and Kinnaur considering the vast production of apple orchards. The muchawaited delicious variety of apples from Himachal Pradesh's Kalpa (Kinnaur district) where horticulture is
considered as a major livelihood source, most of all the households are involved in horticulture activity. The
major horticulture produce in this area is apple. Kalpa is a small village at a height of 2960m in Kinnaur district
of Himachal Pradesh. This place is at a distance of 230 km from Shimla and at 13 Km from Reckong-Peo; the
district headquarter of Kinnaur district.
Agro-Climatic condition
Apple grows at an altitude of 2,900 m. above m.s.l. in the Himalayan range which experience 1,0001,500 hours of chilling (the no. of hours during which temperature remains at or below 7 0 C during the winter
season). In Kalpa the temperature during the growing season is around 20-230 C.
For optimum growth, apple trees need 100-125 cm of annual rainfall. In Kalpa excessive rains and fog near the
fruit maturity period results in poor fruit quality with improper colour development and fungal spots on its
surface. Areas exposed to high velocity of winds are not desirable for apple cultivation.
In Kalpa, hilly loamy soils, rich in organic matter with pH 5.5 to 6.5 and having proper drainage and aeration
are suitable for apple cultivation.
Land Grounding : For establishment of new apple orchard, proper layout of the proposed area is very essential.
Planting Substance
The budding and tongue grafting methods are commonly used for propagation of apple. The planting
material should be purchased only from the registered nurseries and proper care should be taken during
transportation of the same.
Sapling Spacing
In Kalpa, the average number of plants in an area of one hectors, can range between 200 to 1250. Four
different categories of planting density are followed viz. low (less than 250 plants/ha.), moderate (250-500
plants/ha.), high (500-1250 plants/ha.) and ultra high density (more than 1250 plants /ha.).
Planting Process
Square or hexagonal system of planting is followed in the garden or valleys whereas contour method is
usually followed on the slopes of mountain of Kalpa. Plantation of pollinator species in between the main
species is essential for proper fruit setting. For establishment of an orchard having Royal Delicious variety,
plantation of Red Delicious and Golden Delicious as pollinators is recommended by the Horticulture
Department.
DOI: 10.9790/0837-20822023
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An Assessment Of Apple Cultivation In Kalpa Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh
Irrigation
The water requirement of apple is 114 cm. per annum which can be scheduled in 15-20 irrigations. In
summer, irrigation is provided at an interval of 7-10 days while in winter it is given at an interval of 3-4 weeks.
At least 8 irrigations are to be provided during critical period (April-August) of Kalpa. It is said that a small
plant needs 5-6 buckets of water, whereas a mature tree needs at least 12-15 buckets of water.
Fertilizer
In Kalpa, both biotic and chemical fertilizer is used. N, P and K which is applied in an orchard of
optimal fertility are 70:35:70 g. /year (age of the tree). After 10 years of age, the dose is stabilized at
700:350:700 g. of N, P and K /year. The standard fertilizer dose of N, P and K in an off year (when the crop
load is low) is 500 g., 250g, and 400 g. respectively. In some trees deficiency of zinc, boron, manganese and
calcium may be observed which is corrected with the application of appropriate chemicals.
Harvesting and Yield
The orchard start bearing from eighth year and the economic life of an apple tree exceeds 30 years.
From eighth to seventeenth year, productivity goes on increasing and thereafter remains constant up to 30 years.
The level of productivity varies due to soil erosion, irrigation, use of fertilizer and snowfall. Somehow it is
shown in Kalpa that production stage extends up to even forty years depending upon agro-climatic condition
and proper gardening. Apple being a climatic fruit, the maturity period does not coincide with ripening. The
fruits are usually harvested before they are fully ripe.
Table 1: Growing and Harvesting Period of Apple in Kalpa
Types of apple
Royal Delicious
Macintosh
Green Delicious
Season
Sowing
March-May
March-May
February-May
Growing
May-August
May-July
May-August
Harvesting
August-September
July-October
August-October
Source: Field Survey
Types of Apple
There are mainly three types of apple are grown in Kalpa, which are
1. Royal Delicious
2. Macintosh
3. Green Delicious
Table 2: Types and spatial features of apple
Types of apple
1. Royal Delicious
2. Macintosh
3. Green Delicious
Spatial Feature
Discovered in 1875, the red royal delicious apple varieties grew on Jesse Hiatt's farm in Peru, Iowa.
Having considered it as a nuisance, hiatt decided to chop down sapling, but the growth was enormous.
Finally he decided to let it grow. It is dark red in colure and very tasteful.
The apple was discovered by farmer John Macintosh, having its roots in the early 19th century, with
numerous offspring, the fruit has become a highly influential apple variety. The soft flesh is good for
eating the fruit raw. Its creamy flesh is also good for making apple sauce or apple butter. With a
refreshing acidity, flavor of the apple is simple and aromatic. It is light red with yellowish spot in
colour.
As a commercial variety and as breeding stock, Green delicious apple is one of the most important
apple varieties. It is tested sweet & sour & almost oval in shape.
Production
After last years lean season, apple cultivators in Kalpa are hoping for a good crop this year because of
favourable weather. Regular snow and rain in apple orchards have sufficiently increased the moisture content in
the soil that helped the plant get nutrients in the pre-flowering season. In 2010-11, 8980 quintal apple was
produced in the Kalpa.
Table 3: Yearly Production of apple in Kalpa
Year
1995-96
2000-01
2005-06
2010-11
2015-16 ( Expected )
Production in quintal
6,260
8,250
10,419
8,980
10,351
Source: Horticulture Dept. Recokng Peo, Himachal Pradesh
DOI: 10.9790/0837-20822023
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An Assessment Of Apple Cultivation In Kalpa Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh
Year wise it is found that the apple production is gradually increasing in Kalpa. Sometimes the decline
in the production is happened due to a snowless winter and dry monsoon. The field surveys estimate that there
would be a good yield this year that would definitely overcome last years production and expected figures of
this year production could exceed 10,351 quintal. This year production of MacIntosh apple (37.83%) is much
higher than other types of apple.
"A box of superior apple variety from Kinnaur is sold at a rate about Rs.2,200 and Rs.2,400 ($35-$39)
in the Delhi market, which is 25-30 percent higher than any other apples coming from other districts, said Jai
Chand ,a trader at Narkanda apple market, some 65 km from Shimla.
Source: Field Survey
Storage : Apples have a long storage life compared to other fruits and can be stored for a period of about 4-8
months after harvesting. The fruits can be kept in cold storage at a temperature of about 1.1 0 to 00 C and 85-90%
relative humidity.
Packing: Apples are usually packed in wooden boxes having the capacity to accommodate of about 10 or 20 kg.
Corrugated fibre board cartons are also used for packing in Kalpa. According to size of apple, cartons contain
different amount of apples. Cartons contain 6 rows in small size of apples, it contain of about 4-5 row in case of
big size of apples.
Marketing
Marketing of the produce is mainly controlled by intermediaries like wholesalers and commission agents.
During years of good production, the wholesale prices in producing areas slip down to un-remunerative levels.
Mainly garden owner of Kalpa give lease to intermediate farmers for some years. Apple produced in Himachal
Pradesh is exported to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Gujarat at a large number and also apple produced in Kalpa
is exported to foreign countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Canada, Myanmar etc.
Table 4: Major consumer of apple produced in Kalpa
Major Consumer
Gujarat
Punjab
Delhi
Kolkata
Maharashtra
Others
Percentage of Flow
5
5
40
30
10
10
Source: Field Survey
Diseases
In Kalpa, The main diseases reported are collar rot (Phytophthoracactorum), apple scab
(Venturiainaequalis), cankers, die-back diseases etc. Plants resistance to the diseases should be used for
cultivation. The infected plant parts need to be destroyed. Application of copper, oxychloride, mancozeb and
other fungicides have been found to be effective in controlling the diseases.
DOI: 10.9790/0837-20822023
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An Assessment Of Apple Cultivation In Kalpa Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh
Table 5: A brief SWOT analysis
Area of Interventions
Apple orchard
Strengths
1. Existence of Regional
Horticulture research Substation at Sharbo.
2. Good Apple production
3. Good Dry Fruits
production.
Weaknesses
1. Lack of storage
facilities
Opportunities
1. Availability of surplus
Land
for
further
intensification
of
horticulture activity.
2.
Interest of the
villagers to expand
horticulture activities
Threats
1. Climate Change
2. Various diseases
Source: Field Survey
Workers engaged in apple cultivation
In Kalpa, almost 78% of the local people have their own apple garden. Generally most of garden is
situated beside their house. So, as a result all family members are involved in apple cultivation. Only small
family kept some agricultural labourers coming from Shimla. It is said by primary survey that in Kalpa, youth to
middle aged people are mainly involved in such cultivation.
Table 6: Workers engaged in apple cultivation
Sex
Male
Female
Percentage of population involve in apple cultivation
< 15 age
16-30 age
31-45 age
20
40
30
30
30
20
>45 age
10
20
Source: Field Survey
Every year garden owners sell a huge amount of apple. Apple cultivation is the main source of income
of local people. Government of India declared this area as tax free area, which has also helped to enrich their
economic condition. Himachal's Rs 2,500-crore apple industry, which accounts for more than 6% of the state's
GDP and supports more than half of its rural population across six districts, is facing stiff challenge from better
quality imports that are often competitively priced.
II.
Conclusion
Apple cultivation has found to be the most important horticultural farming in this area. It has got great
future prospects in terms of export. It does influence in the socio-economic life of the inhabitants of Kalpa.
The growing importance of the Apple Industry is bringing about a revolutionary change in the state. Himachal
Pradesh is now one of those states of the country which is quickly transforming itself from the most backward
state to an advanced one.
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank Horticulture department of Himachal Pradesh at Reckong Peo, Local people of
Kalpa, "Crops & Gardening Apples of Antiquity". Hobby Farms magazine (BowTie, Inc),
shimlaonline.com/himachal and Hindustan Times for helping me to complete this paper.
DOI: 10.9790/0837-20822023
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