Himachal Pradesh received 117 mm of rain against the seasonal average of 187.1 mm, a deficit of 37 per cent during the winter season, whereas the rain deficit last December was almost 100 per cent. The changing weather patterns have created double trouble for Himachal Pradesh’s farmers who have suffered huge losses in seasonal crops and plants. The overall loss in agriculture crops and horticulture plants until May 9 this year was estimated at around Rs 1.04 bln (€11.4 mln).

A prolonged dry spell after sowing of wheat seeds in winter followed by untimely rains during the summer harvest season led to huge losses for the state’s wheat farmers, State Agriculture Director Rajesh Kaushik said. Apple growers too were caught unawares by the erratic summer weather, resulting in to inadequate chilling hours for the apples.

While around 35.2 mln boxes of apples were produced in 2022-23, this year could see a loss of 30 to 40 per cent due to vagaries of weather, Chauhan said, adding that apples are grown across over 94,000 hectares in the state. 

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com