OVERVIEW OF TEMPERATE FRUITS IN NORTH EASTERN HIMALAYA: SITUATION AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

The North Eastern Region of India is one of the richest reservoir of genetic variability and diversity of different horticultural crops that exists in plant type, morphological and physiological variations, reactions to diseases and pests, adaptability and distribution. The region spreads over an area of 2,620,230 km2 (8% of country’s geographical area) and consists of eight states. The region presents most diverse conditions for fruit growing in terms of slopes, altitudes, agro-climatic conditions and soil types etc. The altitudinal differences coupled with varied physiography contributes to great climatic variations in NE India, from near tropical to sub-alpine and sub-tropical climate. The soil of the region is rich in organic matter and is acidic to strongly acidic in reaction. The widely diverse agro-climatic conditions along with other physiographic conditions have led to immense variability among fruit crops in the region. According to National Horticulture Board, the area, production and productivity of fruit crops in the region in 2010-2011 were 412,000 ha, 3,432,100 t and 8.33 t/ha, respectively. Apart from major subtropical fruits like citrus, pineapple and banana, many temperate fruits like apple, peach, plum, strawberry, passion fruit and kiwifruit are grown in this region. Besides, major fruit species, the region is a treasure trove for many underutilized temperate fruit crops such as Persea americana, Pyrus pashia, P. indica, Prunus nepalensis, P. jenkinsii, P. avium, P. cerasus, P. serotina, Rubus ellipticus, etc. Many of these fruits are rich in nutrients and medicinal properties and have immense potential to contribute location specific food production, as they are well adapted to existing and adverse environmental conditions. Apart from providing diversification of the food base, different indigenous fruit species produce at different times of the years, ensure year round supply of nutrition. Furthermore, these crops have long been a traditional part of cropping systems. Utilization of bio resources through conventional and biotechnological interventions, development of agro-ecological zone specific farming system involving underutilized fruit crops, infrastructural development including processing, storage, transport and marketing, export oriented production programmes and border trade involving high value fruit crops and prevention of genetic erosion in non-traditional fruit species would boost fruit production in the region.