West Bengal: Murshidabad gets ready to grow apples from June

SAGARDIGHI (MURSHIDABAD): The state has procured nearly 1,500 apple saplings from Dehradun. These Anna variety of saplings will be planted in nearly two hectares of state-owned land and in three-and-ahalf acres given by land owners in Bahalnagar and Belkhoria villages in Murshidabad’s Sagardigdhi.
Five Bahalnagar villagers who had gone to work in the Jammu & Kashmir apple orchards were gunned down in Kulgham on October 29.The state had then mooted the proposal to grow apple in Murshidabad and integrate it with the 100-day-work scheme to help anxious villages unwilling to go to work in J&K apple orchards. To study how to grow the fruit here, two horticulturists, and a farmer, Noor Salam, were sent to the Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research in Meerut. The trio has recommended growing the Anna variety, which is suited to tropical weather.
Though the Anna variety are self-fertile, if they are paired with the Dorsett Golden variety, they increase harvest yields and fruit quality. It is for this reason that around 150 saplings of Dorsett Golden apple saplings have also been brought from Dehradun to pair them with the Anna variety. “We need 10% of the saplings to be Dorsett,” said Ratan Ray, technical officer, horticulture and forest.
These varieties need a “chill temperature” of below-10°C for 120 hours to grow. “We expect to get a cold spell of below-10°C for the next 9-10 days in Murshidabad. Therefore, we have chosen this time to plant the saplings,” said Ray.
Sudipto Porel, ADM (zilla parishad), said, “Several villagers have agreed experiment apple cultivation on their land. For now, the saplings are being planted in two plots.” Sources said the first 800 saplings will be planted in Sagardighi state agricultural farm and a stateowned plot in Chandpara.
Sahadat Hossain, who has handed over 1.5 bigha in Bahalnagar for apple cultivation, said, “We have been asked by the local panchayat to remain ready. The plantations will start next week. The field has been prepared accordingly.”
According to sources, the project was also laid out before chief minister Mamata Banerjee when she visited Bahalnagar. The CM had asked the district administration whether more land can be brought under the project. “Hence, we are using the unused state-owned plots in addition to those provided by farmers. This project aims to bring in 87 acres under apple cultivation in the next three years,” an official said.
Sources also indicated the first apples are likely to arrive in June-July 2020. “For the first two seasons, the apples produced will not be economically viable,” an official said. From the third season, however, a producer may be able to earn nearly Rs 2,000 per tree, which has a minimum produce of 50 apples. From the fifth year, this will shoot up to Rs 9,500 per tree.
Noor said, “I had been working in the J&K apple orchards for two decades. Now I am convinced that these apple varieties can be grown in my home.”