Apricot Cultivation: Market for Apricot Products set up in Ladakh by forming FPO

Apricot is cultivated the most in Ladakh and some women here are promoting apricot and its products through FPO, so that farmers can get a good price for the fruit. Ever since the government has started the scheme of forming FPO to help the farmers, it has benefited the farmers.

FPO is a group of farmers, which works together, so that farmers can get the right price for their crop and producers can get the right price for their produce. Taking advantage of this FPO scheme of the government, the women of Ladakh are also promoting apricot cultivation and its products. There is an FPO named LRLM Kargil (Van Dhan Vikas Kendra) in the Kargil area of ​​Ladakh, to which many women are associated. Kharoon Nissa, associated with this FPO, shared some very important things related to the products of her FPO and apricot cultivation with Kisan of India correspondent Akshay Dubey.

Cultivation In Ladakh 

Commercial cultivation of apricot is very limited in our country. Its highest production takes place in Ladakh. After that, apricot is also produced in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. The apricot plant is of normal height and its fruits are yellow, white, black, pink and brown in color. The seed inside it looks like an almond. Dried apricots are used as dry fruits, while its fresh fruits are eaten, juice, jam and jelly are also made from it. Along with this, apricot chutney is also made.

Apricot is cultivated in cold weather. It can be cultivated even in zero degree temperature, but the temperature should not go below this. On the other hand, in summer, its plants grow properly when the temperature is 16 to 32 degrees. Higher temperature than this is not suitable for apricot cultivation. It does not require much rain for its cultivation. Loamy soil with proper drainage is considered good for apricot cultivation and the pH value of the soil should be around 7.

About cultivation in Ladakh, Kharoon Nissa tells that first the apricot seed is sown. After sowing the seed, it takes 6-7 years for the tree to grow. Only after that fruits grow on it. At the time of sowing, the seeds are sown at a distance of 5 feet. Then local fertilizer is added to it and irrigation is done. In Ladakh, apricot seeds are sown in March-April and fertilizer and water have to be given on time every month, then fruits come in 6-7 years. In the winter season, it has to be taken special care of, it has to be covered so that insects do not attack it and animals do not eat it.

Products 

Kharun Nissa of Ladakh, associated with an FPO named LRLM Kargil (Van Dhan Vikas Kendra), told that there are both types of dryfruits with seeds and without seeds from apricot. They also make oil. Kharun tells that in Ladakh people also eat apricot as a fruit, because it is very nutritious. Apricot not only tastes good, it is also very nutritious, as it is rich in vitamin-A, beta-carotene and carotenoids, which are considered beneficial for the eyes. It also contains a good amount of potassium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus. Regarding Ladakh’s almonds, Kharoon says that although almonds are cultivated more in Kashmir, a special type of almond is grown in Ladakh, which tastes quite different.

Apricot Oil 

LRLM Kargil (Van Dhan Vikas Kendra) FPO also sells apricot oil. Regarding this, Kharoon Nissa says that this oil sells very expensive, because it takes a lot of hard work to make it. Apricot oil is very beneficial and nutritious. People in Ladakh eat it and also massage children with it. It is also used as a medicine. Apricot oil contains vitamin K and vitamin C as well as antioxidants.

Started 8 years ago 

Kharun Nissa says that she started this work 8 years ago, but then there were very few members in her group. Now there are many groups in her FPO. Each group has 7-8 members, who make products at their own level. Some do farming, while some products are taken from others. Now there are a total of 300 members in her FPO. She says that along with getting financial help from the government, she was also told about how to sell and take her product forward. 

GI tag to Ladakh’s Raktse Karpo Apricot 

More than 30 varieties of apricot are grown in Ladakh, of which Raktse Karpo Apricot is very famous. It is popular because of its special color, sweetness and white seeds. For this reason, it has been given GI tag in 2022. Actually, usually seeds are brown in color, but the seeds of Raktse Karpo Apricot are white, which makes it different from other varieties.

The soil and climate of Ladakh are very good for apricot cultivation, that is why the apricot here tastes the best. Now the apricot here is also exported abroad, due to which the farmers get a good price for the produce.

Benefits 

When apricot is fresh, it is eaten as a fruit and then after drying it, it goes into the category of dryfruit. Apricots are rich in vitamin A, B, C and vitamin E as well as potassium, magnesium, copper and phosphorus.

It is also a good source of fiber. Eating it daily reduces the risk of diseases like diabetes, eye problems and cancer. Cholesterol also remains under control to a great extent.

Eating apricot also removes skin problems and also cures iron deficiency. It is helpful in increasing the amount of blood in the body.

Apricot oil is helpful in removing the problem of hair fall and dandruff. Mix it with lavender and mint oil and apply it on the hair.