Journal of Global Resources

Volume 2

January 2016
Page 53-61
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

7
AGRO-ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HORTICULTURAL FRUIT GARDENING IN
THESUB-HIMALAYAS OF INDIA: A CASE STUDY ON LIVELIHOOD PROSPECTS AND
PROBLEMS THEREIN
Kamal Asif*, Nizamuddin Khan* and Younis Mushtaq**
Department of Geography, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (U.P.) India**
Department of Education, Jammu & Kashmir Govt., Poonch (J&K) India
Email: kasif2006bustan@gmail.com*

Abstract: This paper is an attempt to unveil the agro-ecological system of a sub-Himalayan
region (district Poonch) in India with special highlights on the diversity of horticultural fruit trees
and their importance as a sustainable livelihood option. The paper examines the production
and productivity of different horticultural fruits in different constituencies of the district and how
they are affected due to variations in geographical conditions. It has been found that the
district is agro-climatically favourable for the growing horticultural crops which may be helpfulin providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. The study also finds
out various problems like inadequate irrigation facility, predominant loose erodible soils, lack ofawareness on conservation practices, critical technology gaps in specific areas and low
adoption of modern agricultural and post-harvest technologies. There are other problems likeinability of farmers to invest, lack of funding opportunities, market facility, packaging, storage
and transportation.
Keywords: Horticulture, Agro-Ecology, Fruit Gardening, Crop Intensity, Livelihood.
Introduction
India with diverse soil and climate comprising several agro-ecological regions provides ample
opportunity to grow a variety of horticultural crops. These crops form a significant part of total
agricultural produce in the country which covers fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops,
flowers, and ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices, condiments, plantation crops
and mushrooms. Cultivation of these crops is labour intensive and generates lot of
employment opportunities for the rural population. India, with more than 28.2 million tonnes offruits and 66 million tonnes of vegetables is the second largest producer of fruits andvegetables in the world next only to Brazil and China (Economic Census 2005). Thus,
cultivation of horticultural crops plays a vital role in the prosperity of the nation and is directly
linked with the health and happiness of the people. The main aim of the paper is to display thepotentials of agro-ecological system in the region under study with reference to horticultural
diversity, as a means of sustainable habitat utilization and livelihood option for local
community. The paper correlates the physical environment with socio-cultural and economic
settings to envisage the potentials of horticultural activities in this sub-Himalayan pocket (i.e.
district Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir, India). To overcome the constraints of management andpromotion and the problems that hinders developmental activities of local communities,
through horticultural sector. This paper also suggests the headway for improved management
and conservation of biodiversity, and other natural resources for sustainable environmental
development.

53

Database and Methodology
ethodology
The present study has been based mainly upon secondary data (2010--11) made available byvarious government departments at district level such as district’s Chief Horticulture Office(CHO),, Agricultural, Forestry and Irrigation,
Irrigation to obtain information about area and production
various crops grown in the region during 2010 and 2011. The work also incorporated the dataand information from some international and national agencies namely; Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO) of the United Nations,N
National Horticultural Board (NHB),(NHB National
Horticulture Mission (NHM),, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
and the State Agricultural Production Department. Besides, some primary information was
acquired through intimate contacts with the farmers in local communities of the region, andacknowledgements of their problems like, irrigation supply, pest/disease, farm mechanization
etc. Interviews were also conducted with horticulture officer and review out their completed
project works and gathered information about the future plans and schemes related to thedevelopment of horticulture in the district or region
region.
Study Area
Poonch is one of the remotely located district of India lies in the state of Jammu & Kashmir(Figure 1). Geodetically, itt is situated between 33o 25' to 34o North Latitudetitude and 73o 25' to 74o
33' East Longitude.
ngitude. The district Poonch came into existence in the year 1967. The averagemean sea level of the land of Poonch is 981 metres (3218 feet) and it spreads over an area of1674 sq. km. or 0.7 million hectares. Pir Panjal range of mountains separates Poonch
Poonc valley
from main Kashmir valley. For a long time the only road connection between the two valleys
was from the city of Jammu. But, now with the completion of Mughal Road (connecting Bufliazin Poonch district to Shopian in Kashmir region) there is a direct
ct connectivity between the two.
Figure 1: Maps indicating location of the study area

Source: National Informatics Centre, district Poonch and Census of India.

Agro-ecologicalecological conditions in Poonch district
Structurally, Poonch is a hilly and mountainous district barring few-low
low lying valleys. The
territory is comprised of three physiographic zones which include the valley plains, the foothills
and the Lesser Himalayas. Here climate exerts a profound influence on the socio-cultural andeconomic life of the inhabitants.
inhabitants The climate reflects humid sub-tropicaltropical (monsoon type) totemperate type. The summer temperature generally does not cross 31 degrees,
degrees while thewinters
inters are cool and chilly characterized with rainfall as a result of western disturbances.
54

Snowfall is uncommon but may occur in December and January. Rainfall is 669 millimeters(26.3 in) in the wettest months. The drainage of the district is quite significant with distributionof several perennial river streams and nalas (seasonal rivulets). The soils of are very muchdiverse because of geological variation, terrain condition, water availability and vegetative
cover. The soils in the district are originated from alluvial, residual and glacial activities.
Broadly, two types of soil viz. sub-mountainous soil in the southern parts and meadow soil
over the northern parts of the district. Due to the presence of favourable geographical andagro-ecological conditions, Poonch district is bestowed with a rich biodiversity of forest andwild life. Forest in the district covers an area about 951 sq. km. which 4.7 percent of the total
state forest area (i.e. 20230 sq. km.). There are vast areas of natural carpet vegetation which
include grasslands, meadows, wild flower patches, ferns mosses and lichens. Throughout theregion of Poonch, there is a handsome diversity of trees (fruit and non-fruit), bushes, andcreepers. Among the timber species there are many varieties including walnut, deodar, oak,maple, poplar, birch, furs, spruce, teak, pines etc., which grows to gigantic size and girth. The
other species are wild olives, figs, wild pomegranates, acacias etc. The fruit species are apple,
walnut, pecan nut, pear, plum, citrus species etc. As per the Annual Report, 2011-12 of Krishi
Vigyan Kendra (Agricultural Science Centre), district Poonch, about 87 percent of the farmers
were associated with agriculture and 65 per cent came under marginal category. Majority offields in the district are situated across the hilly slopes. Overall cropping intensity of the district
is about 166 per cent whereas double cropped area is 0.052 million ha. Average size of landholdings is quite low as it is only 0.2 hectare in the district. The initial land-use pattern in the
district was purely agriculture. It has changed over a period of time to agri-horticultural andsilvi-pastoral. Area under fruit and vegetable cultivation has marginally increased.
The district Poonch is full of natural resources which are of great economic potential.
The physiographic location imposes a number of constraints, particularly in agriculture andallied sectors. Most of the district is rain fed, as only 13.35 per cent of area is having assured
irrigation. There are limits to increasing production through expansion of cultivable land.
Hence, the emphasis has to be laid on increasing productivity levels, besides, diversification
towards high value crops. Among the food-grains, the main crops are maize, wheat and rice.
Besides, other crops like barley, sorghum, pulses, oilseeds, minor millets, vegetables, fodder,aromatic and medicinal plants and flowers are also grown in the region. Mushroom culture andapiculture sectors can also be undertaken on large scale as the district is bestowed withsuitable conditions (Asif and Mushtaq. 2013).
Results and discussion
Poonch district is blessed by nature with varying agro climatic conditions thus making itsuitable for growing of wide variety of crop plants and fruit crops under sub tropical,
intermediate and temperate zones. The peculiar geographical situation and inadequacy ofinfrastructure in the district has restricted the development of horticulture and the possibility ofland productivity. It occupies an important position in the farming system of the state. Besides,
the state has suitable climatic zones for growing temperate, sub-tropical and tropical fruits
throughout the year. The fruits include apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, cheery, walnut,
citrus, kiwi, persimmon, olive etc (NHB 2011 & NHM 2014). Poonch district also offers
tremendous potential for export of various processed fruits and walnuts, honey, etc.

55

Figure 2: Percentages of zone wise potential area under horticulture, 2011

ZONE WISE POTENTIAL AREAS UNDERHORTICULTURE, POONCH DISTRICT (2011)

PoonchChandak
Sathra

8%

9%

Mandi

8%

8%

Loran
10%

10%

Lassana
Surankote

9%

12%
9%
9%

Buffliaz
Mendhar

8%

Harni
Balakote

The total available potential area in the district is 35000 hectares under horticulture.
The district is divided into 11 zones; among which Mandi has the largest share
shar of potential
area i.e. 12 percent
cent while the Mendhar and Sathara contribute 10 per cent each. The zones
like Lassana, Surankote, Buffliaz and Balakote
Balakote possess the share of 9 percent.
per
The lowest 8
per cent is shared by four zones namely; Poonch, Chandak, Loran and Harni.
Harni
Pattern of land use under Horticulture
H
In general, under the regime of agricultural ecosystem of Poonch district, horticulture
represents the main economic activity. Administratively, the district is divided into threeconstituencies namely; Haveli, Surankote and Mendhar, and eleven developmental zones.
These three constituencies
ncies not only possess the administrative function, but also are the main
agro-ecologicalecological zones of the region. Haveli, being the largest constituency comprised of fivezones (Poonch, Chandak, Sathara, Mandi and Loran) of horticultural importance. It has a large
area of 14,000 hectares for horticultural potential, out of which 8,871 hectares has alreadybeen covered under horticulture plantation. The second constituency, Surankote (comprising
Lassana, Surankote and Buffliaz) has a potential area of 9,500 hectares
hectares out of which 4,227
hectares have already been covered under plantation.
plantation Mendhar, the third constituency lies in
the lower areas comprises three zones namely; Harni, Balakote and Mendhar, has a potential
area of 11,500 hectares but, only 3,904 hectares)
hectares) is covered under horticulture.
Table 1: Constituency wise potential area available for horticulture in Poonch district
Name ofConstituency

Potential Area
(in ha.)Area Already Covered
under Plantation (in ha.)Area to be Coveredin Future (in ha.)14,000
9,500

8,871
4,227

5,129
5,273

Mendhar11,5003,904
Total
35,00017,002
Source: Office of the Chief Horticulture Officer, Poonch District.

7,596
17,998Haveli
Surankote56

In this way, out of the total potential area (i.e.35,000 hectares, only less than a halfarea (i.e. 17,002 hectares) has been covered under horticultural plantation, and 17,998
hectares is still left to be covered in future. Thus there is immense potential of horticulturaldevelopment in the district where large populace of unemployed youth is the main social
concern and is bound to migrate.
Area and production of major horticultural crops
As shown in table 5.2 walnut (dry fruit) shares the highest area (48 percent, Figure 3) andproduction (13885.5 MT, 2011) among all the fruit crops of the district during both years (i.e.
2010 and 2011). Because of the introduction of new varieties during past years, there issubstantial increase in the production of walnut i.e. from 8050 MT (2010) to 13885.85 MT(2011). However, the area under walnut plantation shows a very little increase i.e. 2.7 percent.
Pear is the second important crop of Poonch (shares 10 percent area), which is mainly
confined to the lower areas of the district.
Table 2: Area, production and yield of major horticultural crops in Poonch district
Fruit Crop

2010
Area
Production
Yield
Area
(in MT)(qn./ha)(in ha.)(in ha.)
Apple
1973
3240
2062.20
16.42
Pear
1594
6920
1607.30
43.41
Walnut7621
8050
7827.20
10.56
Stone fruits
2765
1800
2794.80
6.5
Citrus346
600
359.8017.34
Pecan nut
260
5.5
284.20
0.21
Olives140
140
Others
1710
675.501476.70
3.95
Total
16023
21285.50
16426.20
13.28
Source: Office of the Chief Horticulture Officer, Poonch District.

2011
Production(in MT)
2544.436171.00
13885.85
1848.40624.005.60
706.0025785.28

Yield(qn./ha)
12.33
38.39
17.74
6.61
17.34
0.19
0
4.78
15.69

Apple is the third important fruit crop in terms of both area (shares 12 percent area)and production (2,544.43 MT). There is a setback with apple crop that, its area has been
increased from 1973 hectares to 2,062.2 during the last one year, but the production had
decreased from 3,240 MT to 2,544.43 MT. Also the yield of apple had decreased from 16.42
qn. /hectare to 12.33 qn. /hectare during the same period of time (Table 3 and Figure 3). Thisis because of the attack of diseases and pests, and the due to the climate change i.e. theincrease in temperature as well as decreased snowfall. The stone fruits comprised of peach,plum and apricot which comes at fourth rank with 17 percent area, while their production was
1848.4 MT during 2011. However, stone fruits show a little increase in the production i.e. 48
MT. during 2011 as compared with 2010. The area also increased from 2765 hectares during
2010 to 2794.8 hectares in the year 2011.
Poonch region has a specialty in the cultivation and production of citrus fruits, which is
confined to almost all parts of the district having different cultivars at different altitudes (DHPM
2002). During 2011, its production was 624 MT from the area of 359.80 hectares (shares 2
percent) resulting a yield of 17.34 qn. /hectare. Pecan nut is another dry fruit after walnut
which shows a very little production i.e. 5.6 MT from an area of 284.2 hectares (shares 2
percent) during 2011. The most probable reason are that, most of the pecan nut trees are
confined to unorganized sector or to wilder areas and they yield very little fruits. There are also
several fruits in the category of others which belong to indigenous type as well as local fruits ofminor importance. This category possesses an area of 1,476.7 hectares and yields an average
production of 706 MT in the year 2011 as reported by the Office of the Chief Horticulture
Officer of Poonch District.
57

Figure 3: Area undernder major horticultural crops in Poonch district, 20102010-2011
9000
8000
Area (in hectares)

7000
6000
5000
4000

2010

3000

2011

2000
1000
0
Apple

Pear

Walnut Stone
fruitsCitrusPecan
nut

Olives Others

Olive plantation is a new miracle plantation under horticulture, encouraging the farmers
as it is a high remunerative crop which could be commercialized. They are trying their best
seeking future scope in the region (DHPM 2002).. There are some areas in the Mendhar
constituency where agro- physical conditions resemble somewhat with the Mediterranean
region. Olive plantation has been introduced (14 hectares, 2011) to the region with goodvarieties
ties of plants. However, region is bestowed with the handsome vegetative cover of wild
olive trees which are uneconomic and nonnon-remunerative.
remunerative. This has strike the idea forcommercial plantation of olives and paves the way for future development of plantatio
plantation, andhope to the farmers and unemployed youth. As mentioned in the Tableble 3, till date 14 hectaresof land have already been covered for this purpose. Efforts are going on to increase the area
more and more by facilitating the farmers with training and fu
fundingnding schemes in the selectedareas of the region.
Productivity Status of Major Horticultural Crops
On examining the area, production and productivity of horticultural crops in Poonch district
during 2005-06 and 2010-11,
11, the comparison, shows a substantial
substanti l increase in each fruit crop
crop.
However, the productivity of all crops is more or less same during both years, while it is nottrue in case of citrus. The productivity of citrus fruits has been increased from 0.765 MT/ha.
(2005-06) to 1.730 MT/ha.. (2010-11), which is due to increased acreage and production(Table 4).
). In the case of dry fruits, comprising walnut, pecan nut and almond, the graph ofproductivity also increased i.e. from 0.862 MT/ha. (2005-06)(2005 06) to 1.017 MT/ha. (2010(2010-11).This isbecause off the increase in area and production of walnut during recent years. However, there
is no current (2010-11)11) data available about the almond crop whose area and production ismeager in the region.

58

Table 3: Area, Production and Productivity of Fruit crops in district Poonch
Fruit
Fresh Fruit
Apple
Pear
Apricot
Peach
Plum
CherryMango
GrapesCitrusOlive
OthersTOTAL
Dry Fruits
WalnutPecannut
AlmondTOTAL
G. TOTAL

Area(in Ha.)2005-06
Production(in MT)

Productivity
MT/Ha.

Area(in Ha.)2010-11
Production(in MT)

Productivity
in MT/Ha.

1411.101412.80
873.59497.49947.08291
9.5
222.15201179
6629.7

2021
6787
41
430
1121
1
0
1
170
424
10996

1.432
4.804
0.047
0.864
1.184
0.034
0.105
0.765
0.359
1.658

1973
1594
882
597
1286
346
14
1450
8146

3240
6920
100
500
1200
600
670
13230

1.64
4.34
0.11
0.83
0.93
1.73
0.46
1.624

6307.7

5698

0.903

7621

8050.01.056

229.1882.5
6619.313249

4.5
15703.516699.5

0.019
0.012
0.862
1.26

260
7923
16023

5.5
8055.521285.5

0.021
1.017
1.325

Source: Office of the Chief Horticulture Officer, Poonch District.

Olive plantation was first introduced in the year 2004 when 20 hectares of land was
utilized for this purpose. In the subsequent years some of the experimental fields show asetback and the area under olive plantation decreased by 6 hectares. Now, new areas are insearch for experiment purposes. At present the total area under olive plantation is 14 hectares.
The area under orchards is far less in comparison to the area under agriculture. During 201011, the total area under agriculture was 19.13 percent; however, total land under the orchards
was only 10.07 percent. The data shows that, still there is a huge area to be explored for thecultivation of horticultural crops. The agricultural land can be utilized for the purpose ofhorticulture, because the gestation period in the case of the major varieties of fruit trees isminimum 4-5 years. Moreover, the plantation of fruits trees along with crops like maize,
vegetables, fodder, wheat and pulses does not affect crops during the gestation period. Thus itis quite possible that, even if the area under these crops does not increase or even remain
stable, the area under fruits could increase. The district has largest potential for production ofquality temperate horticultural crops. It has created a niche in production of apple, pears, anddry fruits i.e. pecan nut and walnut. Among temperate fruits, apple and walnut ranks first andsecond, respectively in area and production, covering 12 percent and 48 percent area, and3,328 and 8,493 MT of production, respectively. Earlier, apples contributed a major share of
total fruit production in the state. But recently a perceptible diversification of fruit has been
seen in the walnut cultivation, which has a very high export potential. The potential for foreignexchange earnings on account of walnut and apple export is very good in future (DHPM 2002).
Constraints in Crop Production and Their Management
Horticultural crops are highly susceptible to plant related diseases and pests. In Poonch
district, various crop related problems have occurred and causes severe damages to thecrops. This has resulted in the downfall of the production and ultimately causes the economic
loss to the farmers and gave rise to the discouragement. There are several crop related
problems in the field of horticulture which are to be solved by the government with aparticipatory approach.
59

Technical and Financial Problems
There is need of training programmes and schemes in respect of all sorts of farm/orchard
management to enhance the skill of the farmers (154 farmers trained during 2011). Increases
the program of Mobile Van Demonstration (88 MVD conducted during 2011) to the farmers, inall parts of the district, about advancement and modern technologies in the field of horticulture.
There should also the provision of on-farm training and farmers should be visited to theprogressive areas (NABARD 2014). Small businesses could be emerged as significant
avenues for the economic empowerment of women. Effective participation of women in thesebusinesses is highly constrained by their limited access to financial resources, marketing links,
technology, business networks, and information on investment opportunities. Effective policies
and programs are needed in these areas to promote the participation of women in small
businesses through self help groups (United Nations 1999).
Marketing and Transportation of Fruit Crops
The importance of good marketing can be conveniently considered from the four different
perspectives economy of the region, the farmer, the product and the consumer (DHPM 2002).
Horticultural products are perhaps most easily defined as what they are not. They are not
cereals or the major industrial crops. Generally, but not exclusively, they are not staple crops(PDD 2000). One of the critical problems which the fruit cultivators are facing is that of theproper marketing. The fruit growers market their produce through various channels. The
growers need help in access to markets, by being provided with good production advice andmarket information to strengthen their ability to negotiate. However, most of the small growers
sell their produce to pre-harvest contractors. The co-operative marketing channels have not
yet achieved an important place in marketing network in the state. In this connection ruralmarkets are important places for transaction of agricultural commodities which also fulfils otherbasic needs of the rural people (PDD 2013). Every year large quantity of fruit crops in theregion got damage due to non-availability of transport and access to remote orchards.
Accessibility with proper roads and quick transport from farm to the market is necessary
requirement of the region. It will help the farmers to send their fruits/crops to the market on
time, as they are perishable in nature. Horticultural crops are also bulky and soft handy which
again needs to transport properly (Asif and Mushtaq. 2013).
Post-Harvest Management and Storage of Fruit Crops
Post harvest management and proper packaging could prevent the post-harvest losses in the
district at mass. About 40 per cent production gets rotted every year due to non-availability of
training and skills in fruit-processing and proper packaging (MoFPI 2014). Only 6.32 MT (<1per cent) of the total horticultural production was processed during 2011 in Poonch district.
Processing in the form of various fruit products like preserves, jams, squashes, juices,canning, drying etc. can help in preventing these losses (MoFPI 2014). Empowerment of rural
youth through promotion of agro-processing activities and encouraging group entrepreneurs
for small agri-businesses (Asif & Rahman 2011) is also a need of the time. In return, it will
provide employment to the local populace and farmers will get right prices of their produce. It
will take the region towards the economic sustainability and self sufficiency (MoT 2014).
Conclusion
It has observed that, the topography and agro-climatic conditions in the study region limit thescope for the production of field crops and the available land is more suitable for the cultivationof horticulture crops. The cultivation of fruits plants per acre of land provides a comparatively
larger volume of employment opportunities to the local people than the other agricultural
crops. A significant level of increase in the labour absorption in apple cultivation over the last
few years also reflects the importance of horticulture for the overall development of the area.
60

Proper resource management and development of improved cultivars for disease resistant andhigh quality crop varieties. Poonch district has a variety of agro-climatic conditions ranging
from sub-tropical, sub-temperate, temperate and cold arid. Each agro-climatic region has its
own potential to grow specific fruit, providing an opportunity to grow a variety of fruits during
the major part of the year. Because of small and fragmented land holdings, more than 90
percent fruit growers fall under small and marginal categories and therefore, investment inmodern technologies at individual level is quiet feasible. Adoption of rural marketing system
may leads to some change because it provides a platform for employment, income, socialchange, and expansion of fruit and vegetable cultivation, but rural markets must bridges orlinked with bigger markets and which is only possible when proper transportation network isprovided. In addition, the processing of farm produce can also play an important role inconserving the farming systems and effective utilization of the produce.
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978-3-659-42685-8), Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany, 113p.

3. Asif, K. and Rahman, H. 2011. A Quest for Developing Agro-Processing Centers in Rural-Urban
Fringe Areas - A Key for Sustainable Development and Propelling Rural Prosperity. In: Jafri
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4. Census. 2001. Ministry of Statistics and Programme, Government of India.
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6. DHPM. 2002. Potential of Horticulture. Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing,Govt. of J&K, Srinagar.
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10. NHB. 2014. National Horticulture Board. Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India. Available from:www.hortibizindia.org
11. NHM. 2014. National Horticulture Mission. Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministryof Agriculture, Govt. of India. Available from: www.nhm.nic.in
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Agriculture, IARI, New Delhi, 24 April.
16. United Nations. 1991. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, HorticulturalMarketing - A Resource and Training Manual for Extension Officers.
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