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The Horticulture sector plays a tremendous role in the farming structure of Jammu and Kashmir. Horticulture sector plays a remarkable role in providing employment. From the stage of tree plantation to the point of its marketing, Horticulture Sector has a good potential in employment creation. In order to achieve this objective, it is important that the limiting factors in both production and marketing of fresh produce addressed speedily and linkages between farmers and buyers are established by developing horticulture mandies at faster pace and on modern and scientific lines. This would not reduce supply chain costs but would also help the farmers with an assured market for their produce. This paper explores production and area of apple industry in Jammu and Kashmir however the author lays more struss in district Bandipora in its area and production. The Horticulture is one of the notable sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. The sector contributes extremely high to strengthen the financial condition of the Jammu and Kashmir, poverty alleviation, employment generation. The varieties of horticultural products of the Jammu and Kashmir have earned world-wide popularity because of its good quality and taste. The fruit crops grown in the Jammu and Kashmir are apple, almonds, walnuts, pears, cherries and apricots in temperate areas and mango, citrus, litchi, papaya, guava etc. in subtropical areas. Saffron cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir is unique in the world.

Objectives are the requirement for study because in absence of it, the study is useless. Here I am presenting the object of my study. 1. To develop and understand the concept of horticulture and to study the factors affecting horticulture production. 2. To study the impact of production area on total production of Apple in the Kashmir division. 3. To study the reason for difference in Apple production in the Kashmir division. 4. To study the reason for difference in Apple production in the different Sub-divisions of Bandipora district.

Horticulture sector is performing tremendous job and as a fast growing sector in Jammu and Kashmir. It is considered as engine of Jammu and Kashmir economy estimated to be 07 to 08%. An area of 3.06 lakh hectares was under horticulture during the year 2008-09, showing an increase in area of 3.55% over the previous year’s figures of 2007-08. In the area figures highest shares of 45.55% is claimed by apple followed by 27.67% walnut. Production of fruit for the year 2008-09 was 16.91 lakh tons i.e., 3.36% more than fruit production figures for 2007-08. In the fruit production figures for 2008-09, share of apple accounts for 78.82% and walnut with 8.73% share in the next major fruit. During the year 2008-09 export of fruit outside the state is provisionally recorded at 11.17 lakh tons out of which is 11.01 lakh tons(98.57%) were fresh fruits. The foreign exchange earnings from horticulture produce were Rs 161.44 crore for 2007-08. Growth of 20.91% in quantity exported and 34.71% in foreign exchange earnings on account of dry fruits has been observed during 2007-08 over 2006-07 figures. The number of fruit growers cooperative societies registered as on 31-03-2007 was 261with membership of 19194 individual. Three main fruit and vegetables market at Nowpora-sopore, Parimpora Srinagar, and Narwal- Jammu are operating to meet the marketing challenges for the horticulture produce. During the year 2007-08, 115 and 36 lakh fruit boxes were transacted by the fruit Mandi Sopore and Parimpora respectively that increase the income and overall employment. “Agri export zone for apple and walnut.” represent an important industry to improve income growth and employment in rural area of J&K. This industry contributes nearly 60% of the state revenue and 22% of gross state domestic product. It is estimated that about 80% of population is directly or indirectly engaged in agriculture and its allied sectors like horticulture etc.

Fundamental to the success of any formal research project is sound research methodology. It is pure and simply to frame the work or plan for the study that guide and collection and analysis of data. We have to look at sources of data which helps in yielding the desired result. Before proceed here we see the source of data collection. In this study both the primary as well as secondary sources has been used, Books, Journals, magazines. Published and unpublished records, reports, consultancies and internet websites have been used for the completion of this research work.

The data collected was tabulated, processed and codified by simple and sophisticated statistical techniques.  Reliable data and information has been gathered on horticulture in Kashmir for the purpose of research work, with structured statements of yearly data of apple production and production area from Directorate of Horticulture Srinagar, Kashmir. A good amount of information and data on the historical perspective of apple industry has been collected from the website of Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture Board for production and production area of different districts of Kashmir Valley. We have also accessed the website of National Horticulture Board for information about apple production in Kashmir. Reliable information was also gathered for different sub-division in Bandipora district for apple production and production area from Chief Horticulture Officer Bandipora, Kashmir. The data has been also gathered from Sher-i-Kashmir University of agriculture science and technology from Shalimar and Wadura branches respectively.

During this research work, the employees and experts of Horticulture were consulted to obtain their views on the apple industry of Kashmir. In order to achieve the given objectives, primary as well as secondary data has been collected with the help of structured statement of apple production and production area of different years, views, reports, publications, journals and institutional libraries has been also consulted for this research work. 

The analysis of data has been done in a sophisticated way by using different statistical tools and techniques. The tools in this research has been applied i.e. Regression for the Area and Production in Jammu and Kashmir from the year 2000-01 to 2012-13 for the relationship between the area and production of apple  in Jammu and Kashmir state.  The ANOVA statistical tool has been applied on the apple cultivated areas and production in various district of Kashmir valley and also various sub-divisions in Bandipora district. In addition to the ANOVA single factor, we have also calculated Average, Standard deviation and Coefficient of variance of each district in production and production area and also in sub-divisions of Bandipora district. We have also put the ranks on the basis of consistent and in consistent level of production and production in different districts of valley and also sub-divisions of Bandipora district.

1) Summary output of apple cultivation area and production of Jammu and Kashmir State.

Year	Area        (Hectares)	Production    (Mt.)
2000	88149	751310
2001	90080	909583
2002	94874	953946
2003	100702	1041538
2004	107925	1093275
2005	111881	1151712
2006	119041	1222176
2007	127795	1311845
2008	133102	1332812
2009	138191	1372973
2010	141717	1852412
2011	154720	1756192
2012	157280	1348149

 In order to interpret the above mentioned table that we have collected data like production area and production of apples from year 2000 to 2012 from the Directorate of Horticulture Srinagar, Kashmir. The data that are mentioned in the above table like Area is calculated in Hectares and the production in Metric tons. With the help of production and production area we have calculated ‘R’, ‘R²’and standard deviation in the regression analysis.  

2). District wise area under apple cultivation in Kashmir valley.

Years	Sgr.	Gbl.	Bud.	Bla.	Bpr.	Kup.	Antg.	Kul.	Shpn.	Pul.	Leh	Kargil
2009-10	2328	3982	14013	25518	4459	17888	13603	13347	20363	7821	626	210
2010-11	2374	4062	14293	26029	4548	18246	13875	13614	20770	7977	639	214
2011-12	2990	5145	14585	25985	5408	18885	16523	15842	21615	10913	648	300
2012-13	3089	5716	14649	24661	5602	18942	16539	16766	21625	11425	732	407

The data for various districts of Kashmir valley based on production area had been collected from Directorate of Horticulture Srinagar, Kashmir from year2009-10 to 2012-13 for the analysis. The area wise data of various districts has been collected in hectares. We have applied Single factor ANOVA for our analysis on the above mentioned data in extra of that that we have calculated the standard deviation, coefficient of variance and also ranks.

3). District wise production of apple in Kashmir valley

The data for various districts of Kashmir valley based on production of Apple had been collected from Directorate of Horticulture Srinagar, Kashmir from year2009-10 to 2012-13 for the analysis. The production wise data of various districts has been collected in metric tons. We have applied Single factor ANOVA for our analysis on the above mentioned data in extra of that that we have calculated the standard deviation, coefficient of variance and also ranks.

 4). Production of apple in Sub-divisions of Bandipora District

Year	Bandipora	Sonawari	Gurez
2012-13	33514.97	315075	75.25
2013-14	35213	18174.4	75.25
2014-15	36506.88	180807.00	68.54

The data for various sub-divisions of Bandipora districts in Kashmir valley based on production had been collected from Chief Horticulture officer Bandipora, Kashmir from year 2012-13 to 2014-15 for the analysis. Production wise data of various sub-divisions of Bandipora districts has been collected in metric tons. For our analysis we have applied Single factor ANOVA on the above mentioned data in extra of that that we have calculated the standard deviation, coefficient of variance and also ranks.

Testing of Hypothesis

1). H₀ : There is no significant impact of cultivation area on overall production of apples in the state.

Regression Statistics
Multiple R	0.877274364
R Square	0.76961031
Adjusted R Square	0.748665793
Standard Error	157439.3376
Observations	13

 

ANOVA
	df	SS	MS	F	Significance F
Regression	1	910808405842.98	910808405842.98	36.75	0.00
Residual	11	272658595117.33	24787145010.67
Total	12	1183467000960.31

In order to test our first null hypothesis ‘there is no significant impact on cultivation area on aver all production in the state’. It can be seen that the value of ‘R’ is 0.877, while the value of ‘R²’ is 0.769. It shows that correlation between areas of production have correlation value 0.877, while the value of ‘R²’ coefficient of determination explains that 0.769 of total apple production is explained by production area. The ANOVA table shows significance value is 0.00 which is well below our assumed level of significance and which we are testing our hypothesis i.e. 5%. Thus our regression model qualifies ANOVA test of goodness of fit. 

2). H₀: There is no significant difference in production areas between various districts of Kashmir Valley.

ANOVA Single Factor

Summary

Groups	Count	Sum	Average	Variance	SD	Coefficient of Variance	Rank
Column 1	4	10781	2695.25	159996.9	399.996	14.840775	9
Column 2	4	18905	4726.25	716697.6	846.579	17.912277	10
Column 3	4	57540	14385	85514.67	292.428	2.03868	1
Column 4	4	102193	25548.25	403332.9	635.084	2.485822	2
Column 5	4	20017	5004.25	341926.9	584.74516	11.684971	7
Column 6	4	73961	18490.25	260756.3	510.643	2.761688	3
Column 7	4	60540	15135	2610795	1615.795	10.675884	6
Column 8	4	59569	14892.25	2811562	1676.771	11.259353	8
Column 9	4	84373	21093.25	397578.9	630.538	2.989288	4
Column 10	4	38136	9534	3612047	1900.538	19.934319	11
Column 11	4	2645	661.25	2306.25	48.023	7.262457	5
Column 12	4	1131	282.75	8584.917	92.654	32.768877	12

 ANOVA

Source of Variation	SS	df	MS	F	P-value	F crit
Between Groups	3125978628	11	284179875.2	298.8458	0.0000	2.066608478
Within Groups	34233294.75	36	950924.8542
Total	3160211922	47

To test our 2^nd null Hypothesis that ‘there is no significant difference in production area between various districts of Kashmir valley’, It can be seen that ‘P’ value of ANOVA test statistics is less than assumed level of significance i.e. 5% and F>F crit., thus our null hypothesis is rejected and it can be concluded that there exists no significant difference between the average / mean production area for apple under Kashmir valley. In extra of ANOVA test we have also calculated the standard deviation and coefficient of variance. On the basis of coefficient of variance, we have put Ranks of different districts of Kashmir valley accordingly having low CV has been assigned as lowest rank while the division having  high CV has been assigned as highest ranking. On the basis of that we conclude that Budgam district had almost consistent production area or we can say that over the period of 2009-13. The production area remained almost same. Thus it has ranked in No.1, while as in Kargil district which is ranked in No.12 had inconsistent production area over the period of time.

3). H₀: There is no significant difference in apple production between various districts of Kashmir valley.                   

ANOVA Single Factor Summary

Groups	Count	Sum	Average	Variance	Standard Deviation	Coefficient of Variance	RANK
Column 1	4	115728	28932	59156027	7691	26.58	11
Column 2	4	183084	45771	47256223	6874	15.02	7
Column 3	4	327866	81967	108608345	10422	12.71	2
Column 4	4	2160428	540107	26424685993	162557	30.10	12
Column 5	4	276706	69177	82500023	9083	13.13	3
Column 6	4	801525	200381	627485784	25050	12.50	1
Column 7	4	535601	133900	363608267	19069	14.24	5
Column 8	4	514487	128622	330071694	18168	14.13	4
Column 9	4	888684	222171	1210769453	34796	15.66	9
Column 10	4	419566	104892	358148646	18925	18.04	10
Column 11	4	18809	4702	507284	712	15.14	8
Column 12	4	5064	1266	35741	189	14.93	6

 ANOVA

Source of Variation	SS	df	MS	F	P-value	F crit
Between Groups	951487863427	11	86498896675	35.05	0.00	2.07
Within Groups	88838500442	36	2467736123
Total	1040326363869	47

To test our 3^rd null hypothesis that ‘there is no significant difference in apple production in various districts of Kashmir valley’, It can be seen that ‘P’ value of ANOVA test statistics is less than assumed level of significance i.e. 5%  and  F > Fcrit. Thus our null hypothesis is rejected and it can be concluded that there exists no significant difference in apple production between various district of Kashmir valleys.  In extra of ANOVA test we have also calculated the standard deviation and coefficient of variance. On the basis of coefficient of variance, we have put Ranks of different districts of Kashmir valley accordingly having low CV has been assigned as lowest rank while the district having  high CV has been assigned as highest ranking. On the basis of that we conclude that Kupwara district had almost consistent production or we can say that over the period of 2009-13. The production remained almost same. Thus it has ranked in No.1, while as in Baramulla district which is ranked in No.12 had inconsistent production over the period of time.

4).H₀: There is no significant difference in apple production between different sub-divisions of Bandipora district

ANOVA Single Factor Summary

Groups	Count	Sum	Average	Variance	Standard Devitation	Cofficient of Variances	Ranks
Column 1	3	105234.85	35078.28333	2251492.797	1500.50	4.28	1.00
Column 2	3	514056.4	171352.1333	22104537448	488675.95	285.19	3.00
Column 3	3	219.035	73.01166667	15.03040833	3.88	5.31	2.00

 

ANOVA
Source of Variation	SS	Df	MS	F	P-value	F crit
Between Groups	49132468757	2	24566234379	3.333758841	0.106262296	5.14325285
Within Groups	44213577911	6	7368929652
Total	93346046669	8

To test our 4^th null hypothesis that ‘there is no significant difference in apple production between various sub-divisions of Bandipora district’, the ‘P’ value of ANOVA test statistics is 0.106262296 and F< Fcrit, thus our null hypothesis is not rejected and alternatively it can be concluded that there exist significant difference in apple production between various sub-divisions of Bandipora District.  In extra of ANOVA test we have also calculated the standard deviation and coefficient of variance. On the basis of coefficient of variance, we have put Ranks of different sub-divisions of Bandipora districts accordingly having low CV has been assigned as lowest rank while the sub- division having  high CV has been assigned as highest ranking. On the basis of that we conclude that Bandipora sub- division had almost consistent production or we can say that over the period of 2012-14. The production remained almost same. Thus it has ranked in No.1, while as in Sonawari sub- division which is ranked in No.3 had inconsistent production over the period of time.    

In Jammu and Kashmir especially, the Kashmir division horticulture plays a significant role in contributing the economy of the Jammu and Kashmir. More than 70% population is involved in horticulture. This sector is one of the most important employment generation sectors in the Jammu and Kashmir. Year after year there is an increase in area and production under different horticulture crops. One of the major factors for achieving such significant achievement has been due to liberal funding under different schemes. Presently two flagships programmes namely, Horticulture Mission for North Eastern and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Youjana (RKVY) have played a key role in creation required infrastructure both in public as well in private sector. With agriculture and allied sectors finding alternative way of increasing productivity of crops, horticulture as a sub sector is a revelation, showing remarkable signs of progress in the state. The Government of India and state Government have taken various initiatives towards market intervention viz, establishment of fruit mandies provisions for support price, technological support awareness options, publicity inputs, research extension etc. The Government of India has initiated several programmes and missions to check the downward trend in agricultural production and to find sustainable solutions. To promote holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushroom, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, cashew and cocoa ensuring forward and backward linkages with the active participation of all the stake holders. The mission acquires a unique position as it adopts a cluster-based approach to promote specific commodities in specific regions with comparative advantage. Technological improvement is necessary to bring about lower costs in processing as well as reducing in fruits and vegetables. This sector has proved to be an important economic sector and a big chunk of population thrives on it. In the recent years, as a result of all round economic and technological advancement of the state, the fruit industry has received a great boost, leading to greater production and export of produce. This sector constitutes the core of agricultural economy of the state. About 20% of total cultivated area is under horticulture crop. About 4.5 lakh families are engaged directly or indirectly with horticulture activities. The area under fruit cultivation is about 1.73 lakh hectares by the end of the seventh period. The total fruit production in the state was 9.10 lakh tons in 1995-96. Fruit export was to tune of 7.10 lakh tons in this period. Horticulture constitutes a critical area of the state’s economy, contributing about 400 crore of the States Domestic Products. The apple occupies a predominant position amongst horticulture crop, constitutes 45% of total area under crop. Apple cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir is fast expanding because apple has a comparative advantage over the other crop. Kashmir has a rich heritage of fruit cultivation and has a greater facility for horticulture as an indigenous apples, walnut, strawberry and apricot can be obtained without any difficulty in most part of the Kashmir valley. Almost half of land under horticulture products is occupied by apple produce. Apple production accounts almost 80% of total horticulture produce. A Kashmir division is responsible for bulk apple production in the state, Almost 98% of land under apple is situated in Kashmir division. So Kashmir is the main producer of apple in Jammu And Kashmir State as well as in the nation also.

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