Himachal Pradesh may face one of its lowest apple harvests in recent years, with growers reporting crop losses of up to 70% across major producing regions due to prolonged erratic weather.

Apple orchards in Kullu, Shimla, Kinnaur, and parts of Mandi district were affected by inadequate chilling hours, temperature fluctuations, frost, hailstorms, and untimely rainfall. Growers said the weather disrupted flowering, pollination, and fruit setting.

Losses vary by region and variety. Higher-altitude areas such as Kinnaur performed better, while lower and mid-elevation regions reported damage levels of up to 80%. Traditional varieties, including Royal Delicious and Red Delicious, were among the most affected, while Gala varieties showed better resilience.

"Our estimates suggest that the overall loss to the apple crop this year could be as high as 70% in major apple belts of the state. In lower elevations, the crop situation is worse. The losses could shrink this year's apple economy of the state from Rs 5,000-6,000 crore (US$600 million-720 million) to Rs 1,500-2,000 crore (US$180 million-240 million) this season," said Harish Chauhan, president of the Fruit Vegetables and Flowers Growers' Association of Himachal Pradesh.

Chauhan said orchards did not receive sufficient chilling hours during winter because of delayed and lower snowfall, affecting bud development and fruit setting. During flowering in March, temperatures fluctuated sharply.

According to the meteorological centre in Shimla, districts including Kullu, Mandi, and Sirmaur experienced heat wave to severe heat wave conditions in early March, followed by cold wave conditions after 15 March due to snowfall in parts of Kullu, Mandi, Lahaul Spiti, Chamba, and Kinnaur.

"The ideal temperature during the apple flowering season is between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius, but it fluctuates from over 30 degrees to below 10 degrees in the apple-growing regions within a short range in March. This resulted in disruption in the entire flowering and fruit-setting process," said horticulture expert Gurmohinder Singh Kotia.

Growers also reported weak pollination because of rainfall and low bee activity during flowering. "Heavy rainfall damaged the pollen, and prolonged cold conditions meant bees remained inactive during the crucial flowering period," Kotia added.

Hailstorms from March through May caused additional damage in regions from Kullu to Shimla.

Apple is the main cash crop in Himachal Pradesh, with an annual industry value estimated at Rs 5,000-6,000 crore (US$600 million-720 million). Around 250,000 families depend directly or indirectly on apple cultivation.

Other temperate fruits were also affected. "Most fruit growers in Kullu are reporting negligible production of plums and pears this year," said grower Sunil Sharma from Kullu district.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com