Jammu Tawi, April 29 -- The "Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir @ 2047" released by NITI Aayog highlights significant growth in the sector, with the area under fruit cultivation expanding from 1.31 lakh hectares in 1980 to 3.44 lakh hectares in 2022, and production rising from 5.6 lakh tonnes to 27.22 lakh tonnes.
Jammu and Kashmir, known as the "Land of Fruits", benefits from favourable agro-climatic conditions that support a wide range of horticultural crops. The sector provides livelihoods to around 3.5 million people and contributes 6-7% to the UT's GDP, with an annual turnover of about Rs.10,000 crore, according to the report.
Apple remains the dominant crop, accounting for nearly 50% of the area and ...