Validation of Horti-Poultry System in High Density Apple Orchards of District Shopian

An On Farm Trial was laid by KVK Shopian in collaboration with Division of Livestock Production Management, under Department of Bio Technology (India) funded project to workout feasibility and economic viability of integration of back yard poultry in apple orchards under the tag of Horti-Poultry Model. The average cost of production for High Density Apple orchard of 3 kannals is 4.5 Lakh. The net return in terms of Apple is 7.0 lakh. The Benefit cost ratio is 1.5:1. Adding Vanraja birds into the apple orchard of 3 kannals, the net returns from 150 birds had added Rs 1.43 lakh. The Benefit cost ratio had increased up to 1.8:1. The growth of plant trees was normal with zero percent mortality of trees and the yield percentage of the crop (apple) was increased by integration with Vanraja birds. The plant health parameters like leaf health were found normal without scab. The fruit setting and fruit health was also without any abnormality and disease. However, in later stages, it was observed that lower fruits were eaten by birds, so we can recommend that clonal apple trees should be pruned and trimmed so that branching starts above three feet. The density of birds in apple orchards was also observed to be a main factor for controlling the birds in damaging the trees, which should always be below 50 birds per kanal. It was observed that if only 50% of apple orchard area of district Shopian is brought under this IFS system, there would be 92 Crores flow of revenue in Shopian district only as there is around 21777 hectares of apple orchards.

Mir Shabir Ahmad1, Z. A. Badri*2, S. A. Ganie3, S. A. Ganai4, B. A. Zarger5 and B. A. Pandit6 Click here to download file

Research Article | Published online : 17-Apr-2024