Advanced Centre for Horticulture Development Zainapora at a glance
NTRODUCTION:-
- Advanced Centre for Horticulture Development, Zainapora, formerly known as Indo -Bulgarian Project, was established during the year 1989-90; in village Zainapora, (Shopian), 63 Kms from Srinagar city towards south Kashmir at an altitude of 1600 mts ASL, at a higher elevation with less annual precipitation and extreme temperature in two seasons of the year. It is spread over an area of 130 Hects. (2600 Kanals) with three main blocks; the High-Density Apple Orchard Block 60 Hects, the Nursery Block 40 Hects and the F.A.O Walnut Block 30 Hects.
- Initially the land was acquired by the State Govt. and put on lease to the Central Govt. (Drug Research of India known as “ Drug Farm Zainapora ”) for 20 years, which was utilized by them, for raising of medicinal plants. After the expiry of lease, the state Govt. handed over the land to Agriculture Production Deptt., who raised fodder / other field crops on it till 1988-89. In the year 1989-90 the land was transferred to Horticulture department for propagation of clonal root-stock/ establishment of high density orchard in collaboration with Bulgarian Govt. till early 90's. But due to unfavorable situation in the valley (turmoil conditions), the experts from Bulgarian Govt. left the station half-way without achieving the required goal and finally, it was completely sponsored by State Govt. with the nomenclature as Advanced Centre for Horticulture Development Zainapora.
- Total Area of the Farm:- 2600 kanals (130 Ha)
- Year of Establishment: - 1989-1990 .
- Location of Farm:- 63 Kms from Srinagar (located in South Kashmir ).
- Altitude:- 1600 MS ASL
- Average Annual Pptn:- 664 mm un-evenly distributed
- Soil Texture : - Sandy Loam
- Soil P.H :- 6.9
- Soil Reaction :- Neutral
- Organic Matter :- Average
- Soil Nitrogen :- Normal
- Potassium :- Normal
- Phosphorus :- Poor
A i m s & O b j e c t i v e s :
- Production of High-density clonal rootstocks.
- Production of quality plant material on Clonal rootstocks.
- Management of water conservation through different methods viz. Plastic- culture etc.
- Acclimatization / adoption of various kinds of exotic fruit cultivars.
- Imparting training to Basic Horticulture workers/ Farmers/ interested Orchardists.
- Reducing gestation period in Ambri cultivar by raising on Clonal root stocks.
- Introduction of dwarf and early bearing varieties of Walnut
The Farm has been established to serve as a demonstration Centre for modern Horticulture practices for orchard/ Nursery management. This involves certain aspects of Research and Development like Adaptability, Pest management, Irrigation. Nutrient Regime & Profitability etc. Hence more stress has been laid on various management aspects rather than commercial aspects.
The Advanced Centre for Horticulture Development is the back bone of Horticulture Department, where the precious and valuable exotic plant material and root-stocks imported from Bulgaria, U.S.A and Armenia are being propagated on the modern scientific lines for its economic upliftment of the farmers of J & K state to boost their economy. The world's famous Ambri apple of Shopian is almost all disappeared from the area which was climatically fit for production of the said species of the Apple . The Department has again initiated to revive its propagation on modern scientific lines so as to get its plantation done in the area for its better production, marketing on viable economic basis. Apple Ambri plants on exotic clonal root stocks are also being propagated by budding/ grafted techniques at the station for distribution among the interested growers of the Shopian District in particular and Valley in general.
With the aim of transfer of the technologies of Horticulture from laboratory to the field, training is being imparted to the interested Farmers of the J & K State with the modern technologies of the Horticulture at this Centre.
The State Govt. as well as the Central Govt. is giving thrust to development of ACHD Zainapora and its advancement through latest scientific and modern technological methodology as it supplies major portion of high density plant material to various corners of state.
Development/ Establishment of post quarantine facility at ACHD Zainapora
During the current year 2016-17, department put a step forward and is going to import precious and valuable plant material from foreign countries.For importing plant material, post quarantine facility at the ACHD Zainapora has been created in shortest time frame schedule, as a measure of which more than1.62 lacs of precious clonal rootstocks (exotic) stands already imported from Holand and transplanted at this prestigious centre for propagation & its multiplication on scientific lines. The department has taken all the necessary steps for development of post quarantine facility at the Farm which include development of land and improvement of irrigation facility etc. The state of J & K has a great potential for development of Horticulture. Approximately 5 lac families (25 lack people) are directly or indirectly involved with fruit cultivation and 90% of the Orchardists are either small or marginal farmers.
Important Varieties being propagated at Farm:-
|
S.No
|
Kind
|
Variety
|
|
1
|
Apple
|
Star crimison, Molis delicious ,Scarlet Spur,Oregon Spur , Early Red One
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
Cherry
|
Stella, Bing
|
|
|
3
|
Prune
|
Stainley
|
|
4
|
Apricot
|
Yerevani- Helman
|
|
|
5
|
Nectarine
|
Red Gold
|
Development of Nursery:-
i. Area under Nursery: 18.92 Ha (used on rotation basis).
ii. No. of mother stocks (imported seedlings) transplanted for Clonal propagation;162595 No.
Description of Important Clonal propagation stocks:
|
S.No
|
Kind
|
Variety
|
|
a
|
Apple
|
M-27, M-9,T337, M9,T339,MM-106, , M-09, Pajam-I, MM-111, P-20
|
|
b
|
Quince
|
BA-29
|
|
c
|
Cherry
|
Colt & Mazzard
|
iii. Major activities/ achievements carried out during the year 2013-14 , 2014-15 & 2015-16:-
|
|
|
| S.NO |
Activities |
Unit |
No. of Attempts
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
|
1
|
Budding operations on Clonal stocks
|
No
|
46911
|
32498
|
61314
|
|
2
|
Grafting operations on Clonal stocks
|
No
|
44942
|
35338
|
20898
|
|
3
|
Clonal rootstocks produced
|
No
|
126865
|
106323
|
69858
|
|
4
|
Clonal rootstocks issued to various sister offices etc.
|
No
|
5000
|
38210
|
41310
|
|
5
|
Clonal rootstocks sold to beneficiaries
|
No
|
509
|
6106
|
1000
|
|
6
|
Clonal rootstocks transplanted for further propagation
|
No
|
9179
|
35600
|
6650
|
|
7
|
H.D plant material issued/ sold
|
No
|
51549
|
49526
|
28663
|
|
8
|
No. of beneficiaries covered
|
NO
|
-
|
489
|
193
|
|
9
|
Revenue accrued from Farm
|
Rs.
|
25,78,108.00
|
25,85,305.00
|
28,36,4
|