India PM launched Prime Minister’s Development Package helping apple farmers of J&K

The package was launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2015.

Under the package, the horticulture department has set up apple orchards in the Union Territory’s Anantnag district to help increase the apple production and has lent a helping hand to an apple grower by giving him high-density apple plants under the PMDP which provides them nets, borewells and other facilities on subsidy, reports Financial Post.

Under the scheme, the government promotes high-density plantations, phasing out old plantations which have completed their economic life, giving farmers a subsidy of 50 per cent on re-plantation, reports the news portal.

The horticulture department is also providing technical support to farmers to grow apples.

Asif Hussain Bodha, Horticulture Officer, Anantnag, told ANI: “We have set up an apple orchard here. This land was barren. The other day, I was passing by this area when Shakeel Ahmad (an apple grower) met me. I told him about the project, he too was interested, so we established this orchard here. Traditional farming yields only 11-12 MT per hectare while we aim towards 30 MT per hectare with the help of this project. I think we are moving towards achieving this goal.”

“This scheme falls under PMDP in which we have given 90 per cent subsidy in plant material and after that, the department has given him tractor and a borewell on subsidy. This project helps earn a good amount of income,” he added.