Karnataka Farmer Cultivates Kashmir Apples Near Bengaluru, Draws Wide Attention | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Challenging the long-held belief that apples can only be grown in cold regions like Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, a farmer from Karnataka has successfully cultivated Kashmir apple varieties near Bengaluru, attracting attention from farmers and agriculture enthusiasts across the state.

According to details reported by Siasat Daily, Anil, a farmer from Addagallu village in Chikkaballapur taluk, has managed to grow apple trees on his one-acre farmland and is now witnessing a promising harvest.

Anil earlier cultivated vegetables, including tomatoes, but suffered repeated financial losses. Looking for an alternative, he decided to experiment with apple farming after learning about the process through online videos.

“I faced losses in traditional crops several times. So, I wanted to try something new and different. I learned about apple cultivation through YouTube videos and decided to give it a shot,” Anil said.

With guidance from agriculture graduate Shashikumar from Tumakuru and information gathered online, Anil imported Israel-origin apple saplings and planted nearly 400 trees on his farm. Despite Karnataka’s relatively warm climate, the apple crop has reportedly adapted well and produced encouraging results.

According to the farmer, each tree is now yielding nearly 10 kilograms of apples. The success has surprised many local farmers, as apples are generally considered suitable only for colder regions.

“I wanted to prove that apple cultivation is possible even in Karnataka’s climate if proper care and technology are used,” he added.

Instead of depending on traders or wholesale markets, Anil has adopted a direct-to-consumer model by opening his orchard to visitors. People visiting the farm can pluck apples directly from the trees and pay for the fruits they harvest.

“I want people to enjoy the experience of visiting the farm and harvesting fruits themselves. It creates awareness and also gives consumers confidence about the quality,” he said.

The innovative initiative has begun attracting nearby farmers and agriculture enthusiasts, many of whom are visiting the orchard to understand alternative farming practices and modern cultivation methods.

Agriculture experts believe such experiments could encourage crop diversification in Karnataka and help farmers reduce dependence on conventional crops vulnerable to repeated market and weather-related losses.