Evaluation Criteria for the Suitability of Apple Cultivation in Kashmir Valley, India

Fayaz Ahmad Lone (), M. Imran Ganaie (), Showkat A. Ganaie (), M. Shafi Bhat () and Javeed Ahmad Rather ()
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Fayaz Ahmad Lone: Department of Geography and Disaster Management, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
M. Imran Ganaie: Department of Geography and Disaster Management, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
Showkat A. Ganaie: Department of Geography, Government Degree College Shopian, Kashmir, India
M. Shafi Bhat: Department of Geography and Disaster Management, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
Javeed Ahmad Rather: Department of Geography and Disaster Management, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India

Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, 2023, vol. 20, issue 1, 71-85

Abstract: The study aims to provide viable criteria to assess land suitability for apple growing in Kashmir Valley, India. It used a Delphi survey and the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) approach to determine factors influencing apple production. The evaluation criteria were obtained through multiple rounds of the Delphi survey of stakeholders. The Delphi outcome was extended to enable prioritization of the criteria, using a pair-wise comparison process. Results show that experts value physical and economic considerations (accounting for 87% of the overall weight) more than social factors. Furthermore, location-specific factors (i.e., cost-benefit ratio and landholding size) have significant bearings on land suitability for apple in the study area. The Delphi-AHP method proved to be useful as it incorporated core issues of agricultural land use by creating a common framework for suitability evaluation and eliminated uncertainties in the decision-making process.

Keywords: evaluation criteria; Delphi survey; apple cultivation; AHP; land suitability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B55 C01 C52 D61 Q10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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