Production and Export of Fresh and Dry Fruits in Jammu and Kashmir : An Analytical Study

Agriculture is the core sector of the Indian economy and horticulture is a central component of it. In the horticulture sector of the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) state, production of apple proved to be the most important fruit crop, as 8.00 crores boxes of apples are exported annually. Apple production is the main occupation in the Kashmir Valley (India) and constitutes 90% of the total fruit crop in the valley. The horticulture crops also provide a better alternative for the diversification of Indian agriculture via higher returns. They play an important role in the country’s nutritional security as well, in addition to poverty alleviation and employment generation. From the last few years, production and productivity of horticulture fruits have increased manifolds and resulted in the huge amounts of dispatches from the state. The state is famous for its horticulture produce both in India as well as abroad. This paper emphasised the growth in area and production of fresh and dry fruits in J&K and the export of fresh and dry fruits. This study shows that there is positive growth in the area and production of fresh and dry fruits and in the export of fruits. In J&K though, there are some fluctuations in some years but these fluctuations are the results of flood in 2014 and turmoil in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2016