Experts warn Punjab farmers against ‘forbidden fruit’

Amid instances of successful growing of apple trees in the plains of Punjab, experts at Ludhiana-based Punjab Agricultural University have a word of caution for farmers who are keen to take up this “high-risk venture”.

Harminder Singh, Head of Department of Horticulture at PAU, said apple with its short juvenile period as compared to pear comes into first fruiting after three years of planting in the field and commercial bearing starts after four to five years.

Fruit development

“Under sub-tropical climatic conditions of Punjab, flowering of apple trees takes place in February. Although this climate is suitable for initial fruit development, the high temperature and low humidity during harsh summer months of May and June impact the physiological fruit development, resulting in poor colour and flavour, coupled with undersized fruits, which often do not mature properly,” he said.

Navtej Singh Bains, director of research at PAU, said apple is typically a temperate fruit requiring winter chilling below seven degrees Celsius, which is why its commercial cultivation is done in the high ranges of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

“With high-quality, imported apple varieties having uniform size, shape and deep attractive colours finding extensive market in the State, the potential of low-chill apple cultivation in Punjab needs to be assessed very carefully,” said Mr. Bains.

Low-chill varieties

PAU initiated work on apple cultivation in 2012 with introduction of 29 low-chill varieties like Crisp Pink, Liberty, Stayam and Fuji apple varieties from India and abroad. The evaluation is being undertaken at four locations.

Cautioning that work on the evaluation of these varieties started just five to six years ago, and to date only two of the varieties — Anna and Golden Dorsett — have come into fruiting, Mr. Bains said, “It is too early to judge the potential of the crop in Punjab.”

“Although, diversification of agriculture in Punjab is an imminent need, at the same time the farmers, already under economic distress, should not be induced to take up high-risk ventures,” added Mr. Bains.