00:00Crunchy, flavourful and packed with health benefits, apples are winning both hearts and
00:09farmlands. Once grown primarily in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, these vibrant fruits are now
00:16thriving in the cool hilly terrain of Manipur. Traditionally known for cultivating rice, maize
00:22and pulses, the state is now witnessing a fresh wave of apple farming. With shifting climate
00:28patterns, modern farming techniques and growing farmer awareness, apples are quickly emerging
00:34as a promising and a profitable crop for Manipur. Since last year is the first time for the
00:43harvest and this year going to be the second harvest, so in the future it will export to
00:51the town and in fall or in the national. We have planted these 300 to 400 saplings and
01:00this is pure organic and the wild apple also very good in this village and the organics,
01:10everything is in organics here and then the plants are just for four years only.
01:17The hilly districts of Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong offer ideal conditions for apple cultivation,
01:24thanks to their cool climate, rich soil and high altitudes. As a high value cash crop, apples
01:30provide better returns than traditional farming, boosting farmer incomes. Today, not just farmers
01:38but also orchard owners and professionals from other fields are venturing into apple cultivation.
01:47We were told that apple tree can last for more than 100 years. So, if you take pain to plant
01:54an apple, then it will give you fruits the rest of your life. So that is a prospect, you know,
02:01at the same time it can be plucked, it can be, you know, transport to anywhere and then, you know,
02:06in Manipur, we are eating apple from Kashmir and Jammu and some other far more places,
02:11even from China also. So, here if we grow apple and then give us a plant and fruit, then, you know,
02:18market should not be any problems and we can export to any place, any nook and corners of the world.
02:23The future of apple cultivation in Manipur looks promising, marking a major shift towards horticulture
02:30in the state. With growing interest, improved techniques and the right policy support,
02:36Manipur could soon emerge as a key player in India's apple production.
02:42This trend not only boosts the local economy but also inspires youth to take up farming,
02:48paving the way for rural prosperity.
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