Recently, the state horticulture department held a three-day workshop to teach growers how to cut and prune their trees to increase production at the Advanced Centre for Horticulture Development in Zainapora in Shopian District, which is famous for its apples.

A practical demonstration was held in an apple orchard to show growers how to cut and prune their trees before the start of the new season.

“We chose this farm to give practical training to apple growers who have come from nearby and far off villages. To begin with, we talked to them about the purpose of the training and later gave them a practical demonstration.

We showed them which stems needed to be cut and which should be planted for high-density plantation, so that their farms can improve in terms of quantity and quality,” said G H Shah, Director of the Department of Horticulture, Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdul Rashid said the workshop would help traditional apple growers like him.

“We learnt about pruning and its importance. We learnt about high density fruit planting and how to carry out pruning in our farms and to improve fruit quality,” said Rashid.

Horticulture has an annual turnover of Rs.3500 crores and provides direct and indirect employment to about 23 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir.

The fruit industry and the tourism sector play a key role in sustaining the state’s economy.