SKUAST-K Field Day Spotlights Kashmir’s Ambri Apple Revival and High-Density Orchard Mechanisation
SHOPIAN, August 07, 2026 — Efforst to conserve Kashmir’s iconic indigenous Ambri apple, alongside advances in scientific orchard management and modern mechanisation, took centre stage today during a Field Day-cum-Fruit Show held at the Ambri Apple Research Centre in Pahnoo, Shopian. Organised by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir under the HADP-18 initiative, the event brought together agricultural scientists, extension experts, and local fruit growers to discuss strategies for boosting regional horticultural productivity. Vice-Chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganie inaugurated the programme and highlighted the historic significance and high market value of the Ambri cultivar. He urged farmers to adopt scientific management, efficient pollination techniques, and judicious pesticide applications to cultivate export-quality produce. In addition to opening the conference, Ganie unveiled a comprehensive fruit exhibition featuring elite apple cultivars, promising breeding selections, and technical literature published by the university.
Addressing the audience on modern agricultural practices, Director Extension Raihana Habib Kanth stressed the necessity of integrating scientific canopy management, balanced tree nutrition, and precision farming into both traditional and high-density orchards. Further elaborating on density models, Division of Fruit Science Head Ashiq Hussain Pandith detailed the operational advantages of High-Density Plantation systems and outlined university strategies to encourage wider adoption across the Kashmir valley. Senior Scientist Hamidullah guided participants through research orchards and the fruit exhibition, explaining ongoing field trials and extension programs dedicated to fruit development at the centre.
A key highlight of the event was an interactive live demonstration on orchard mechanisation led by HADP-18 Principal Investigator Tariq Rasool. Rasool demonstrated automated mist sprayers, explaining how modern equipment optimizes canopy coverage, reduces chemical waste, and lowers manual labor costs across varied orchard types. Emphasising heritage preservation, agricultural writer and Ziraat Times founder Arjimand Hussain Talib advocated for a dedicated “Virasat Revival” programme to protect indigenous cultivars like the Ambri from extinction. The event concluded with a farmer-expert interaction session where orchardists received direct guidance on disease management, equipment operation, and market linkages to bridge research innovations with real-world farm application.