KINNAUR - Fruit bowl of Himachal / Different fruits varieties .

 

  Kinnaur -                                    

  Located in Himalayan Mountains Kinnaur is a district of himachal which is surrounded by Tibet in the east ,lahaul and spiti in north and Shimla and  Uttarakhand in south, Moving upstream along Satluj river gradual transition of land from arid, semi-arid to dry region.  

                                                                                        Total area – 6401km sq.  , (2471sq mil)

Total population (2011)- 84,121

Altitude range from  - 2320 to 6,816 meters ( 7612 to 22,362 ft. )

   Vegetations of Kinnaur -       

 Kinnaur has been recognized as a distinct floristic region. As it consist rich regional flora due to it’s diverse topography and wide altitude range. Its vegetation is represented by temperate forest ,and scrub, alpine pastures, dwarf juniper scrub and dry alpine scrub communities. Wide range of altitudinal and climatic geospatial gradients has endowed rich landscape rich botanic diversity..

Climate - 

 Based on amount and distribution of precipitation region is classified into three broad  climatic zone the wet ( nichar and Sangla areas) ,the dry ( klapa and Moorang) and arid zone (Pooh and hangrang areas ).                                                                          Seasons of the year comprises of winter from December to March, followed by spring   From mid march to may and summer from June to September, rainfall in month July and august, autumn in September to November. 

Fruits in Kinnaur -    

Kinnaur considered as fruit bowl of Himachal, As it consist rich regional flora due to it’s diverse topography and wide altitude range. Wide ranges of fruits are found in this region.  Although different fruits ripen in different months but    Mostly in summers walking on the path or looking at fields and orchards, all you see is fruit laden trees. Its consist most of all fruits that need hilly climate to grow.

What are the different types of fruits?

Apple is the one of most popular fruits in Kinnaur which you would see in every orchard. Apple plays a vital role in shaping the economy of Kinnaur, large no of Kinnauri people has one major source of income from apple. Although large no. of fruits are like pears ,different type of berries, large verities of nuts , cherries and plums are also available here . Chilgoza   is also one of popular fruits which are present only in Kinnaur and few parts of Kashmir in India. 

For our convenience we would classify fruits into 2 category.

I. Fleshy fruits - 

 Fruits in which fine walls become soft and fleshy as it mature. This includes:

1.Apples

Kinnaur is widely known for its apple production. It is believed that kinnaur has one of the best apples throughout the country. Not only in India but apple from kinnaur is exported outside the country. Due to high altitude and cold climate it gets good chilling effect. Shelf life of this region is comparatively long then other region and having natural sweetness. Popular verities of apple are:

Golden, Royal, Red Golden, Red delicious, gaie gala, super chief and scarlet. 

2. Pear-

It is present almost in every region of kinnaur but not abundance as apple. Few verities of pear are hu

3.  Berries -

Different verities of berries  of available here.  Grapes, Raspberry, strawberries, black raspberry, blue berries, hawthorn berries.

 Grapes are most common among them which widely grown in few villages. RIBBA is one of village which is famous for its rapes. Anguri is famous Kinnauri wine which is made by grapes. Few berries are grown in wild and peripheral of field or orchard.

4. Plum –

 Few common verities of plum available in the are Red plum, Greengage plum, Prune and Blackamber. It is grown most of Kinnaur region depending upon different verities in different altitude. Plum is one emerging fruit in market which is slowly getting better.

5. Cherry, Fig (angjeer). Persimmon (japani fal) , kiwi, pomegranate ,Peach   

are  few fruits which are dominant in lower region .This kind of fruits are mostly not grown in large quantities for income purpose. But it is grown in small quantities only few trees along other fruit plants for household uses.

II . Dry fruits -  

 fruits in which the coat become dry at maturity. Kinnaur is also famous for wide range of dry fruits.

A. Nuts

1. Almond -

almond are different verities depending upon their shell, size and taste. Most common Khata badam ( having hard shell) and kagazi badam(having soft shell easily breakable) . It is grown in every part of Kinnaur regardless of altitude difference.

 

2. Walnut –

Walnuts also varies depending upon shells some are easily breakable by pressing by hand and for other requires stone. There is also wild apricot which is very hard and fibers are tightly packed inside it. It is comparatively less in upper regions of kinnaur

3. Pecan - it is nut similar to walnuts.   

 

4. Chestnuts- 

Although chestnuts are grown in kinnaur. but, its cultivation practices are limited.

B. Apricot –

 It’s another famous dry fruit which is almost available in every household. It can be eaten in freshly after ripen or can dry for later use or sale. It also had different verities. Khurmani(sweat in test) and Chulli (little soar also knownas wild apricot). Seed (kernel) of apricot are edible but incase chulli it is soar in test.

C.  Chilgoza – 

Also known as Neoza it is naturally grown in region of Kinnaur. It’s available to particular region of Kinnaur from Wangtu to Ropa valley (mostly in middle region of Kinnaur Kalpa and Moorang region).  It is one of most nutritious and expensive dry fruit. It is available in kinnaur and few regions of Kashmir in allover India.

Importance of fruits-

Fruits plays vital role in human which fulfill different nutrients requirement of our body. It had great importance in every part of having different verities of fruits according to their region and climate.

Fruits are uses in most of  every  fair and festivals of Kinnaur from the offering to the guest, deities, monasteries and temples. Dry fruits are used to make garland (mala) such as kernel of apricot, walnut and chilgoza using the needle and thread.     

Dry fruits are used to extract oils which are high in demand. Chulli oil is widely used throughout Kinnaur having large no. of nutritional benefits. Chulli oil is extracted from kernels of wild apricot. Chulli oil has also received GI (Geographical indication) tag.

A geographical indication tag is used for an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicraft and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory.