Low Productivity of Fruits, Its Implications and Combating Strategies in Cold Arid Eco-region of Ladakh (J&K)

The present study was undertaken with a vision to study the status of commercially important fruit; Apricot and Apple in Ladakh region of J&K state, India. The study is based on the secondary data. The main source of data collection includes; Economic survey, statistical digest, government official records, books, magazines, articles and journals. The data has been analyzed, arranged and interpreted through tabulation and simple percentage method. It was observed that with the increasing demand for these fruits, the area under cultivation in the region has increased, with the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 1.49% and 5.1% for apricot and apple respectively during the decade (2008 – 2017). But the production remained almost static in case of apple, whereas, it decreased with a compounded rate of 2.77% in apricot. The productivity, which determines the economic feasibility of the crop as profitable enterprise, declined in both crops with a CAGR of -4.91% in apricot and -2.9% in apple, this may be attributed mostly to insect pest infestations, especially Codling moth in apple, and aphid and Brown tail moth in apricot. Low density planting systems with traditional varieties, and poor management of orchards has added to the woes. Thus from the study, it can be interpreted that the enterprise need to be restored by switching to the new innovative technologies adapted worldwide like High density planting. This in addition to the high yields may also prove beneficial in losses due to pest damage by reducing the overwintering sites (bark crevices).