Persimmon Cultivation: A cash crop to explore in J&K

For the past many years, Jammu and Kashmir has put a lot of focus on fruit cultivation. However, the experts believe that all the eggs should not be put in a single basket and there is a need to look beyond apple cultivation. The diversification in various cash crops must become the norm for the orchardists. Naveed Hamid writes about the possibilities and opportunities of persimmon cultivation in J&K. 

Persimmon – locally known as Amlok or Japani Phal – is a fruit that is native to China, whereas wild species found in the Western Himalaya (D. lotus) is a Caucasian native that was introduced by Europeans in 1921 in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh and is now cultivated in Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, and parts of Tamil Nadu.

It is a monoecious tree that grows to a height of 5-15 metres. The trees are deciduous, and their dormancy lasts until mid-February. Dormant trees can withstand temperatures as low as -150 degrees Celsius. Fruit maturation is more difficult for non-astringent cultivars than for astringent cultivars. Flowering begins in mid-March and lasts until the second fortnight of April. Flat-globose, conical globose fruits ripen in September-October and are orange, reddish-orange, and orangish-red in colour. The flesh is orange in colour and has a fibrous pulpy texture. In the case of astringent types, the fruits are sweet when completely ripened, whereas non-astringent types can be eaten raw like an apple. At room temperature, non-astringent types have a storage life of roughly 15-20 days compared to astringent ones.

Cultural practices

Persimmon thrives in well-drained light soils with decent subsoil including some clay and a pH range of 5.8 to 6.5, and may be cultivated in a wide range of subtropical and sub temperate climates. It can be reproduced by grafting or budding onto wild persimmon rootstocks. Tall cultivars are planted in autumn in well-prepared trenches at a distance of 6 x 6 m.

Persimmon as a fruit of Business for farmers

The best places to cultivate Persimmon are those where apples can be cultivated.

The tree starts bearing fruits in 4-5 years and has an average production by the end of 10 years. The same time is required for the cultivation of apples too. Persimmon tolerates high winters and harsh weather. While some of the areas in Kashmir have limitations of weather, Persimmon is one of the few fruits which can counter this problem.

Economics of Persimmon fruit

Most farmers cultivating apples already know the decline in the price of apples in the country. In Himachal Pradesh alone Solan, Hamirpur, Sirmour, Kullu, Mandi,  Kangra districts have approximately 3000 Tonnes per year in the production of Persimmon.

The fruit, though costs Rs 150-300 during off-seasons have a nominal price of Rs 100 per kilo in retail during seasons. Though the price in Delhi and Mumbai are high for apples, the actual price farmers get is a lot less than what we buy for. Persimmon, due to its demand and lack of availability, commands a much higher price. A price of Rs 120 is nominal for good quality persimmon when obtained from a farmer.

Rootstock Startup Business Opportunity

Persimmon is started from seed or the Indian persimmon plant is the rootstock used for best results for starting persimmon trees in India. The rootstocks are either budded or grafted when the rootstock is ready. Chip budding is done in August and grafting is done in April. Mother plants that need to be grafted should be selected with care.

Pests are minimal in persimmon and the most common problems include thrips, whitefly and mites.

Fruit Harvesting

From the first fruit setting to maturity, it takes two and a half months. Harvest is done when the fruits are tender and ripe, often reddish in colour. Fruits that are not soft will usually be astringent and not suitable for consumption. Some non-astringent varieties are excellent even when not completely ripe. The fruits are very soft and can be scooped off with a spoon when fully ripe. They are chalky in texture when they are not ripe and the non-astringent varieties, though consumable, do not develop the desired taste unless tender.

The fruits have a good shelf life of up to two months if stored in a temperature between 0-2 degrees Celsius. They can also be dried in shade with proper ventilation. Traditionally, the persimmon fruit is stringed by the pedicel and hung in a well-ventilated room until the water content is removed.

Benefits of Persimmon

The persimmon is a fruit that comes from certain trees in the genus Diospyros. Like the tomato, it is technically a berry but rarely considered one.

Persimmons are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, support the immune system and protect against heart disease.

• Persimmons are also high in soluble dietary fibre, which slows the digestion of carbohydrates, preventing spikes in blood sugar.
• Persimmons can help keep arteries clear and reduce the risk of heart disease. Atherosclerosis refers to the hardening and narrowing of arteries, and one study found persimmons rich in dietary fibre, antioxidants, and minerals that are part of an antiatherosclerosis diet.
• Its tannin-rich fibre has proven particularly effective in treating high cholesterol.
• Persimmons can help in keeping eyes healthy. In addition, persimmon peel is rich in lutein, which is known to help protect against eye disease.

Diabetes Prevention and Reduced Risk of Complications

The peel of persimmon contains flavonoids that have proven to have antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. They protect against the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), harmful compounds that form when protein or fat combines with sugar in the blood. AGEs have been linked to both the onset of diabetes and to long-term health complications resulting from the disease.

Agri-Startup Business Opportunity

Agriculture is the world’s oldest economic sector, and it provides a primary source of income for roughly 58 percent of India’s population. Things began to change in India when the startup age began. Startups have surely contributed to the agricultural sector’s growth and transformation.

Agriculture has become a source of distraction, with agri-startups offering solutions to assist farmers in the J&K in enhancing their productivity and living. Agricultural development in Jammu and Kashmir is critical for raising agricultural-dependent people’s incomes and expanding the non-agricultural economy. With about 60% of rural Indian households relying on agriculture, India holds the record for the world’s second-largest agricultural land, presenting an enormous opportunity for agricultural startups.

This fruit will be an alternate crop for farmers of Jammu and Kashmir to tap on for their higher return and effectively shift in their farming system.

Young Budding Agripreneurs can grab the opportunity of creating a system for growing a new fruit crop in Jammu and Kashmir by using various agribusiness models. It will provide new business opportunities in establishing rootstock units and Primary Processing Units to fetch the high return out of this farming.

Naveed Hamid is BDA at Innovation & Entrepreneurship Cell, SKUAST-Kashmir. You can reach him at bhatnaveedbhat@gmail.com.