Srinagar, April 12 -- A 60-year-old farmer from remote Katwalt village in Udhampur's Chenani tehsil, Sansar Chand, has emerged as an example of rural entrepreneurship by transforming his six-kanal landholding into a thriving high-density apple cultivation unit.

Unlike traditional apple orchards that take nearly 8-10 years to begin yielding produce, the high-density apple varieties promoted under central and Union Territory horticulture initiatives start bearing fruit within a year, offering farmers faster returns and improved productivity.

Supported by a 50 per cent subsidy under UT CAPEX and central government schemes, Chand's orchard has been developed with an estimated density of 166 plants per kanal.

Speaking to ANI, farmer Sansar ...