Salient features

• Scion cultivars like Makhdoom and Waris are grafted on seedling almond rootstock.
• Grafted plants are planted at 3 m × 3 m and 2.5 m × 2.5 m spacing, accommodating 1,111 and 1,600 plants/ha, respectively as against 278 plants under conventional system.
• Plants are trained on Central Modified Leader system in combination with annual pruning.
• Trees are suitably supplemented with drip irrigation, recommended doses of manures, fertilizers and plant-protection measures.
• Five to six honey bee colonies/ha are maintained for pollination.

Performance
• Through this technology increased yield (5.11–5.84 tonne/ha) could be obtained from 10-year-old orchards.
• It can boost productivity from existing 0.73 tonne/ha to 5.84 tonne/ha.

Impact and benefits
• It is highly remunerative technology for getting higher production with better fruit quality. It has better cost: benefit ratio.