Apple Ber cultivation involves planting grafted saplings in well-drained soil during monsoon (June-Aug) or winter (Dec-Mar) in pits with organic matter, requiring pruning (Feb-Mar) for shape, regular fertilization (manure, DAP, potash) and irrigation (drip recommended), pest control (fruit fly traps, Malathion), and harvesting large, crisp fruits. It thrives in hot, dry conditions, yielding significantly in the first few years, with high demand due to its apple-like appearance and sweet taste.
Ms. Jully Behera, hailing from Kanjiapal in Bhadrak district, has distinguished herself as a successful agri-entrepreneur in Apple Ber cultivation. Through structured domestic market linkages facilitated under the PSFPO initiative, she has achieved nearly 25% higher price realization. Her women-led enterprise not only exemplifies the superior quality of the region’s produce but also stands as a model for developing resilient, market-oriented value chains that foster rural prosperity.
Presentation -Dibyabharati Nayak