A young farmer of Pratappur in Surguja region of Chhattisgarh is trying to break the myth that apples can only be grown in cold regions.
Mukesh Garg has planted more than 100 saplings of different varieties of apples in a warm place like Pratappur. Some plants have started bearing fruits.
In a few weeks, the fruits will ripen and become eatable. Garg claims that apples can be grown anywhere in Chhattisgarh and their farming can prove to be profitable for farmers.
Commonly, apple grows in states with lower temperatures like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir as well as Uttarakhand.
The weather in Chhattisgarh is warm, which is said to be unfavourable to the cultivation of apples.
Garg came to know that a certain variety of apple has been developed in Himachal Pradesh that can be grown in warmer states as well.
He contacted the Agriculture and Horticulture Department and planted the saplings of this variety.
He learned techniques of their plantation and maintenance from the Horticulture Department. Within one year, these plants have grown to 4-6 feet in height.
He had filled the pits with water after putting cow dung, soil and water. These steps were taken to settle the pits to ensure that the fibers of the plants didn't break after the saplings were planted.
Watering them once in two or three days in summer is sufficient. However, care should be taken that plants shouldn't hold water to avoid the issue of decay of roots.