Is apple ber a good low-water crop and how soon does it fruit?

Apple ber, including the popular Thai apple ber types, is a hardy, drought-tolerant crop that suits hot, dry and semi-arid regions and a range of soils, making it attractive for low-water areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and similar zones. A big advantage is that it fruits fast, often giving a crop within the first year or so of planting grafted plants, much quicker than most fruit trees. It is grown from grafted plants of selected varieties, needs annual pruning to crop well, and benefits from some irrigation for better fruit size even though it survives on little water. It does need pest management, especially fruit fly. Confirm the recommended variety and a genuine grafted plant source for Jodhpur with your KVK or the horticulture department.