Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra are the leaders in growing almond plants for producing high-yielding nuts. Currently, Almond (बादाम) retails for Rs. 770 to 780/kg. However, this price can be more or less, it depends on which state you are in, which types of almonds you are growing, and the expenses you laid for growing a quality almond tree in India. Rest assured, let us tell you, whichever type of almond in India you plan to grow, or whichever state you are located in, the high yield from this nut is guaranteed. The almond farming profit is huge if you use the right agri-practices and resources.
Furthermore, do you know the average yield you can produce per acre of land is somewhere between 1,400 to 2,600 pounds? And Indian climate, whether it is regular or even hot, is suitable for cultivating almonds. Here are a few names of how almonds are pronounced in different parts of India.
- Badam (Hindi, Marathi)
- Badam Pappu (Telugu)
- Baadami (Kannada)
- Badam Parappu (Tamil)
- Badam Kayu (Malayalam)
Interested in pursuing almond farming in India? Sure you are! This guide below will discuss the best ways to do almond farming in India. We will chalk out the required temperature, soil, planting methods, and more that can help you start almond farming right after you are done reading this blog.
Read: How to cultivate almonds in India?
But before that, let’s discuss which almond variety is highly famous in India.
Popular Almond Variety — That is High Selling in India
India has rich production of almonds due to supporting weather, labour, and other agri-resources. Here are a few best varieties of almonds that are majorly grown in India.
- Shalimar – They are pointed, large size nuts.
- California paper shells – They are somehow large, sweet and thin.
- Merced – They are flat yet light brown. And they are grown mid to late season.
- Nonpareil – They are elongated and have a pale brown shell.
Other popular varieties are Mukdoom, Pranyaj, Drake, and IXL.
Here are some other commercially traded almond varieties in India:
- Primorskii
- Ne Plus Ultra
- Thompson
- Butte
- Monterey
- Ruby
- Fritz
- Sonora
- Padre
- Le Grand
- Peerless
- Carmel
- Price
Technical Factors Required to Grow Almonds in India
Let’s review some conditions regarding almonds farming climate, soil, land preparation, fertilisers, etc., required to grow almonds in India.
1. Agri-climatic conditions for Almonds
Slightly hot summer is suitable for almond cultivation, generally between 30C to 35C. Blossoms can survive in cold temperatures between -2.2C and -3.3C for a shorter period. But if this temperature lasts longer, the blossoms can get damaged easily.
Unopened blossoms can thrive in temperatures up to -2.2C. While blossoms that are petal stage can get damaged if the temperature falls from 0.50C to -1.1C.
2. Soil Requirements for Almonds
The ideal soil PH for almond cultivation is between 7.0 to 8.5 in India. Almonds trees cannot sustain in poorly drained soils. The soil has to be deep, loamy and drought-tolerant. The soil should be supplemented with proper farm yard manure and frequent irrigation.
Read: Types of Soil in India with Uses
3. Planting of Almonds
Grafted or budded almond plants should be planted in a square pattern at a distance of 6m X 6m. Before planting, pits should be
Each row should be dug up to a volume of 3ft X 3ft X 3ft around the months of September and October. However, the almonds plants should be planted during the month of Feb to March. The almond plants should be planted between February to March in the centre of the dug pit.
And to ensure the almond trees grow straight and can survive strong gush of winds, desired bamboo support can be given.
4. Mixed Cropping with Almonds
Farmers can use interspaces for mixed cropping but only when almond orchards are at their pre-bearing stage. The following crops can be sowed to double income opportunities:
- Pulses
- Pea
- Carrot
- Saffron
- Mustard
- Knoll Khol
- Mustard
- Bud production of onion and garlic
- Seed production of turnip
- Sowing of aromatic and medicinal plants like lavender, lavendine
Besides just income opportunities, farmers can grow legumes like pulses and peas as they are helpful in restoring soil quality and fertility.
The seed production of turnip and mustard augments pollination by attracting bees. Furthermore, growing aromatic and medicinal plants like lavender, garlic, lavendine, etc, are great options to repel ant pests, diseases, and insects.
5. Manure and Fertilizer in Almonds Cultivation
Almonds require a good schedule of fertilisers. During winter, from Dec to Jan, it is important to apply farm yard manure of about 20-25 kg/tree. However, the application should depend on soil tests and leaves nutrients.
Here’s the recommended dosage by experts:
- Urea should be applied in 2-3 doses.
- The first half dose of urea should be given along with full DAP and full MOP at fortnight when blooming is on the verge.
- However, the second split should be given in 1/4th quantity after 3 weeks when the fruit is all there.
- And the third dose, again 1/4th, should be given by May – June.
A foliar spray of urea in about a 1.3 to 2% ratio can be applied to enhance fruiting buds and overall growth next season.
6. Irrigation for Almond Trees
Flowering stages (Feb to March) are crucial and prone to water shortages. Thus, enough water should supplant them. To ensure high-quality nuts, the blossoms should be watered at timely intervals.
The drip irrigation method can be highly suitable for irrigating the almond field. This will not just help with timely irrigation but will also help with efficient water management.
7. Almond harvesting process
Almonds trees become fruit-bearing within three years after transplantation. And once the tree is 6-7 years old, the tree starts yielding high-quality nuts. And after 8 months of flowering, the almonds can be harvested.
To identify whether the fruit is ready to harvest, make sure the pods are green to yellow. Poles could be used to harvest almond nuts. And further, the nuts should be either sun-dried or manually dried through dry air until the moisture content reaches 5-7%.
8. Post-harvest management in almond cultivation
Once the almonds harvested, they require hulling to prevent any fungal diseases. And to ensure their moisture content reduced to 5-7%, nuts should be sun-dried or dried through manual hot air passing. Polytunnels with a fan can be used for manual drying procedures. Further, the almonds need to be shelled and dehulled.
Looking for harvesters? Here are the best choices
Almond Farming Yield Per Acre in India
Per acre, 1400 to 2600 pounds of almonds can be produced with the right farming equipment, methods and agri-resources.
Top 11 Almond Producing States in India
- Jammu and Kashmir – The state meets India’s 91.26% almond production needs and results in average production of 12.93 (thousands of tones).
- Himachal Pradesh – Himachal Pradesh is the second largest producer of almonds in India, with an average production of 0.76 (000 tones).
- Maharashtra – Maharashtra is the third largest producer of almonds, as Indian badam can grow well even in hotter temperatures.
- Karnataka – Karnataka is the fourth leading state in almond production in India. The popular regions where production is the most are — Bangalore, Hubli, Belgaum, Davanagere and Mangalore.
- Andhra Pradesh – Cultivation of almonds is feasible in Andhra Pradesh as it has a large market for suppliers, wholesalers, distributors, and exporters in India.
- Uttar Pradesh – Upon seeing how feasible it is to grow almond trees, Uttar Pradesh is lining up methods and resources to contribute to the production of almonds in India.
- Kerala – By realising the health benefits of almonds in India, Kerala also sees potential in almond tree farming for better yield and profits.
- Tamil Nadu – Tamil Nadu is the eighth largest contributor to the production of almond in India as it has a suitable climate and efficient farmers.
- West Bengal – West Bengal leads the list at the 9th position because of the suitable agro-resources the state entails.
- Gujarat – Gujju farmers are going ahead and learning about how to grow almonds. Ideally, through farming Youtube channels, social media, and other digital technology to become budding producers.
- Rajasthan – Rajasthan has the required agro-climatic conditions to sustain almond plants in India. Sweet and bitter almond variety in India can be grown here.
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Bottom Line of Growing Almond Tree in India
This was your ultimate guide on how to grow almond plants or perform almond cultivation in India. Hope the above steps are helpful in setting up your farm, start with farming and earn profitable yields.
You can start with a small farm; just make sure you add good quality soil and have proper fertiliser and manure schedule, followed by enough water. This will help you produce maybe the best almond in the world.
But your farming is incomplete if you don’t buy a mini tractor in India of good quality, followed by some farming implements that can save your efforts and double your farming yields.
Frequently Asked Questions on Almond Farming in India
1. Which is the biggest almond producing state in India?
Ans. As per 2021-22 records, Kashmir had 91.26% of almond production in India, followed by Himachal Pradesh with 8.73 % and Maharashtra with 0.09 %.
2. When is the right time to harvest almonds in India?
Ans. By the end of July, almonds begin to split open. And between mid to late August, the split wides up even more, exposing the shell and allowing the nut to dry. So, August and September are India’s best months to collect or harvest almonds.
3. Is almond farming bad for the environment?
Ans. Bees can be harmed or killed during intense pollination practices during almond farming. This can further lead to certain diseases and illnesses if not gauged rightly.
4. How much water required for almond cultivation in India?
Ans. Almond flowering is usually done between Feb- to March, while fruit development takes place between April to June. Both these primary stages are critical to almond growing, and lack of water cannot be possible. Hence, sufficient water in these stages on a priority basis should be given to grow quality almond types in India. A drip irrigation system can be used as it is effective and helps with water management.
5. Is almond farming profitable in India?
Ans. Yes, almond farming is profitable in India, as an acre of land can help yield 1,400 to 2,600 pounds of almonds.
6. What is almond milk farming?
Ans. It is the process of blending almonds and water and removing the solids. The smooth, creamy texture milk you get at the end is almond milk.
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