AgriBiz
Persimmon Cultivation: A cash crop to explore in J&K
For the past many years, Jammu and Kashmir has put a lot of focus on fruit cultivation. However, the experts believe that all the eggs should not be put in a single basket and there is a need to look beyond apple cultivation. The diversification in various cash crops must become the norm for the orchardists. Naveed Hamid writes about the possibilities and opportunities of persimmon cultivation in J&K.
Persimmon – locally known as Amlok or Japani Phal – is a fruit that is native to China, whereas wild species found in the Western Himalaya (D. lotus) is a Caucasian native that was introduced by Europeans in 1921 in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh and is now cultivated in Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, and parts of Tamil Nadu.
It is a monoecious tree that grows to a height of 5-15 metres. The trees are deciduous, and their dormancy lasts until mid-February. Dormant trees can withstand temperatures as low as -150 degrees Celsius. Fruit maturation is more difficult for non-astringent cultivars than for astringent cultivars. Flowering begins in mid-March and lasts until the second fortnight of April. Flat-globose, conical globose fruits ripen in September-October and are orange, reddish-orange, and orangish-red in colour. The flesh is orange in colour and has a fibrous pulpy texture. In the case of astringent types, the fruits are sweet when completely ripened, whereas non-astringent types can be eaten raw like an apple. At room temperature, non-astringent types have a storage life of roughly 15-20 days compared to astringent ones.
Cultural practices
Persimmon thrives in well-drained light soils with decent subsoil including some clay and a pH range of 5.8 to 6.5, and may be cultivated in a wide range of subtropical and sub temperate climates. It can be reproduced by grafting or budding onto wild persimmon rootstocks. Tall cultivars are planted in autumn in well-prepared trenches at a distance of 6 x 6 m.
Persimmon as a fruit of Business for farmers
The best places to cultivate Persimmon are those where apples can be cultivated.
The tree starts bearing fruits in 4-5 years and has an average production by the end of 10 years. The same time is required for the cultivation of apples too. Persimmon tolerates high winters and harsh weather. While some of the areas in Kashmir have limitations of weather, Persimmon is one of the few fruits which can counter this problem.
Economics of Persimmon fruit
Most farmers cultivating apples already know the decline in the price of apples in the country. In Himachal Pradesh alone Solan, Hamirpur, Sirmour, Kullu, Mandi, Kangra districts have approximately 3000 Tonnes per year in the production of Persimmon.
The fruit, though costs Rs 150-300 during off-seasons have a nominal price of Rs 100 per kilo in retail during seasons. Though the price in Delhi and Mumbai are high for apples, the actual price farmers get is a lot less than what we buy for. Persimmon, due to its demand and lack of availability, commands a much higher price. A price of Rs 120 is nominal for good quality persimmon when obtained from a farmer.
Rootstock Startup Business Opportunity
Persimmon is started from seed or the Indian persimmon plant is the rootstock used for best results for starting persimmon trees in India. The rootstocks are either budded or grafted when the rootstock is ready. Chip budding is done in August and grafting is done in April. Mother plants that need to be grafted should be selected with care.
Pests are minimal in persimmon and the most common problems include thrips, whitefly and mites.
Fruit Harvesting
From the first fruit setting to maturity, it takes two and a half months. Harvest is done when the fruits are tender and ripe, often reddish in colour. Fruits that are not soft will usually be astringent and not suitable for consumption. Some non-astringent varieties are excellent even when not completely ripe. The fruits are very soft and can be scooped off with a spoon when fully ripe. They are chalky in texture when they are not ripe and the non-astringent varieties, though consumable, do not develop the desired taste unless tender.
The fruits have a good shelf life of up to two months if stored in a temperature between 0-2 degrees Celsius. They can also be dried in shade with proper ventilation. Traditionally, the persimmon fruit is stringed by the pedicel and hung in a well-ventilated room until the water content is removed.
Benefits of Persimmon
The persimmon is a fruit that comes from certain trees in the genus Diospyros. Like the tomato, it is technically a berry but rarely considered one.
Persimmons are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, support the immune system and protect against heart disease.
- Persimmons are also high in soluble dietary fibre, which slows the digestion of carbohydrates, preventing spikes in blood sugar.
- Persimmons can help keep arteries clear and reduce the risk of heart disease. Atherosclerosis refers to the hardening and narrowing of arteries, and one study found persimmons rich in dietary fibre, antioxidants, and minerals that are part of an antiatherosclerosis diet.
- Its tannin-rich fibre has proven particularly effective in treating high cholesterol.
- Persimmons can help in keeping eyes healthy. In addition, persimmon peel is rich in lutein, which is known to help protect against eye disease.
Diabetes Prevention and Reduced Risk of Complications
The peel of persimmon contains flavonoids that have proven to have antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. They protect against the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), harmful compounds that form when protein or fat combines with sugar in the blood. AGEs have been linked to both the onset of diabetes and to long-term health complications resulting from the disease.
Agri-Startup Business Opportunity
Agriculture is the world’s oldest economic sector, and it provides a primary source of income for roughly 58 percent of India’s population. Things began to change in India when the startup age began. Startups have surely contributed to the agricultural sector’s growth and transformation.
Agriculture has become a source of distraction, with agri-startups offering solutions to assist farmers in the J&K in enhancing their productivity and living. Agricultural development in Jammu and Kashmir is critical for raising agricultural-dependent people’s incomes and expanding the non-agricultural economy. With about 60% of rural Indian households relying on agriculture, India holds the record for the world’s second-largest agricultural land, presenting an enormous opportunity for agricultural startups.
This fruit will be an alternate crop for farmers of Jammu and Kashmir to tap on for their higher return and effectively shift in their farming system.
Young Budding Agripreneurs can grab the opportunity of creating a system for growing a new fruit crop in Jammu and Kashmir by using various agribusiness models. It will provide new business opportunities in establishing rootstock units and Primary Processing Units to fetch the high return out of this farming.
Naveed Hamid is BDA at Innovation & Entrepreneurship Cell, SKUAST-Kashmir. You can reach him at bhatnaveedbhat@gmail.com.
Dr Zahoor Ahmed Rather
Prof Imtiyaz Tahir Nazki
Blossom at Risk
The global environmental agencies declared 2024 the hottest year and over the course of the last century, the average surface temperature of earth has increased, amounting to around 0.74 0C.As per the Economic Survey, India is the seventh most vulnerable country to climate change and faced severe weather extremes, with 93% of days in 2024 marked by extreme climate events such as heatwaves, cyclones, and floods. As the world grapples with the phenomenon of climate change, one of the most visually striking yet often overlooked casualties is the floriculture industry. From tulips in the Netherlands to roses in Kenya, the delicate balance required for flower cultivation is being disrupted by rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and shifting ecosystems. The floriculture industry employs millions of people, from small-scale farmers in developing countries to large-scale exporters in Europe and Asia. The decline in flower quality and quantity due to climate change could have far-reaching consequences not only affecting global flower supplies but also small-scale flower growers, being the backbone of this industry, and may be forced out of business. At present, 1191 growers registered with Department of Floriculture (J&K) are active in commercial floriculture business generating an income of Rs. 19.42 crores (2023-24) which is under threat due to climate change.
The Kashmir’s temperate climate, fertile soil, and glacial waters have nurtured a flourishing floriculture industry with an area of about 431.25 ha alone under gardens, parks and lawns, attracting tourists all over world. Kashmir once celebrated as the “Garden of Eden” for its riot of colors and fragrances, isnow slowly turning into a battleground where nature and climate change are stuck in a grim struggle. Extreme weather events, like unseasonal frosts, irregular precipitation patterns, prolonged droughts and increased evaporation rates are becoming more frequent. One of the immediate consequences of climate change in Kashmir is the disruption of traditional weather cycles.
The most significant impacts of climate change are the alteration of crop blooming cycles. A shorter blooming season, improper floral growth and colour development, and insufficient flowering are all problems associated with commercial flower cultivation, especially under open field conditions. Thus flower crops like tulip, marigold, gladiolus, annuals grown under open conditions will be greatly affected by these erratic weather changes. Among ornamental crops, flowering bulbs are considered as vital indicators of climate change due to their sensitivity to minor seasonal cues and temperature changes. Warmer temperatures are causing flowers to bloom earlier than usual, disrupting supply chains and affecting seasonal markets. Spring flowering bulbs viz., tulips, daffodils and crocuses are among the first plants to signal the onset of spring, have been observed blooming earlier than historical averages. Warmer winters have caused premature bud formation making them highly susceptible to unexpected frost. Ornamentals such as tulips, daffodils, magnolia, irises which need chilling temperature for flowering are adversely affected. Under present scenario of mild winter and warm spring, the bulb yield oftulip is expected to hit badly. On the other hand, summers, with prolonged unexpected heat waves have also disruptedthe normal blooming process of flowers. These conditions lead to shortening of flower duration and deterioration of aesthetic and commercial value.
Temperature extremes not only influence the timing and quantity of flowering but also affect flower quality including volatile fragrances of flowers. Temperature at low to medium range plays a critical role in pigment production especially anthocyanin which contributes to the vibrant colours of flowers. The extreme temperature has also been linked to declining number of flowering buds and smaller flower diameters in species like Antirrhinum majus and Impatiens walleriana. Any unusual change in photoperiodism and thermoperiodism due to climate change would result in a significant deviation in the flowering patterns of plants such as carnations, chrysanthemums, and poinsettias.
The plant hardiness zones have also been observed to move northward or upwards in response to rising temperatures. Diversity of some alpine species has become vulnerable and their distribution is gradually narrowed. The rhododendrons and other woody ornamentals of lower hills have begun to invade the alpine areas thus changing the composition of plant population. Changes in the timing, duration, and abundance of flowering have the potential to disrupt ecological relationships among plants, pollinators, herbivores, flower parasites and pathogens.
Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns and increased humidity create favourable conditions for outbreak of pests and diseases by expending habitat range that can cause damage to ornamental plants at high scale. This can pose a significant challenge to sustain quality production in floriculture, thus requiring integrated approaches to devise management strategies.
The plight of Kashmir’s floriculture is a microcosm of the global climate crisis. Despite the challenges, the floriculture industry has to adopt innovative approaches to combat climate change. Farmers can take up greenhouse cultivation to have better control of temperature and humidity and drought-resistant flower crops along with precision farming practices like drip irrigation etc. The modern approaches like roof and vertical gardening can play an important role in improving air quality, and reducing surface temperature in the built environment, costs for heating or cooling of building and noise pollution. Interior landscape plants are also useful to enhance indoor environmental quality and improve workplace efficiency. Development of public parks and lawns enriched with native flora improves air quality, mitigate health risk and maintain species diversity. The AI-powered systems can also be used to monitor and optimize the growing conditions of high value crops. Therefore, the future of Kashmir’s floriculture depends on collaborative efforts across all sectors. Policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders must join their hands to work together to execute policies and practices that promote sustainability and protection of the region’s floral heritage and tourism industry associated with it.
The authors are faculty at SKUAST-K’s Division of Floriculture and Landscape, Shalimar. zahoor.rthr@gmail.com
BK News
Srinagar: The month-long Training of Trainers (ToT) program for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), organised by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) and Agriculture Department in collaboration with the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, concluded successfully, marking a major milestone in capacity building for agricultural transformation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The program brought together some of India’s foremost agricultural business experts to train nearly 300 resource persons in eight batches. Designed under SKUAST-K’s HADP Project 20: Innovative Approaches for Promoting Agriculture in J&K, the initiative aimed to strengthen farmer organizations such as FPOs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Common Interest Groups (CIGs), and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). The program covered topics like FPO formation, business planning, supply chain management, and market linkages.
The valedictory session, held at SKUAST-K’s Shalimar Campus, was attended by Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, who commended the university’s efforts in empowering trainers to lead grassroots-level transformation. He encouraged the participants to utilize their skills to create resilient and sustainable farmer organizations, emphasizing the need for market-oriented and collective farming practices.
Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, who actively monitored the program, in his message stressed the importance of FPOs in transitioning J&K from subsistence farming to sustainable commercial agriculture. Drawing comparisons with advanced economies, he highlighted the urgent need to increase agricultural processing, which currently stands at just 2% in the region.
Prof Masood Saleem Mir, Associate Director Research and Principal Investigator of the HADP Innovative Extension Project, elaborated on the program’s objectives and logistics. “This training was designed to address the unique challenges faced by farmer organizations in J&K. By equipping participants with technical, managerial, and entrepreneurial skills, we aim to create a ripple effect where these trainers will mentor and guide farmers across the region,” he said. Prof Mir further highlighted the strategic collaboration with MANAGE Hyderabad and the Agriculture Production Department, which ensured the program’s success.
“Our aim is not just to train individuals but to build a system where farmers can access consistent support and practical solutions for their challenges. The comprehensive curriculum, covering everything from FPO formation to business sustainability, is tailored to meet the region’s specific needs,” Prof. Mir added.
The training, facilitated by MANAGE Hyderabad, featured country’s top expert in FPO formation, business planning and supply chain management. These experts provided strategic insights into FPO management, business sustainability, and innovative mobilization techniques, ensuring practical outcomes for the participants.
Participants praised the program for its practical orientation, stating that it had demystified the complexities of building successful FPOs. Many called for follow-up sessions focused on developing tailored, commodity-based business plans to enhance FPO effectiveness.
This initiative aligns with SKUAST-K’s vision to make J&K a model bioeconomy in the country, fostering a resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape. The university plans to replicate the program in the Jammu division, further extending its impact.
The event concluded with the distribution of certificates to the trainees and a pledge by all stakeholders to work collectively towards uplifting the region’s farming community.
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