Amid climate crisis, Himachal Pradesh's Rs 5,000-crore apple economy faces severe challenges

Himachal Pradeshs Rs 5000crore apple economy is facing a severe unprecedented climate crisis amid unseasonal rains and rising hailstorms with statewide output estimated to drop by around 40 per cent from last years 699 lakh Metric tonnes in 2025Vagaries of weather such as insufficient winter snowfall unseasonal spring rains hailstorms and erratic temperature fluctuations is likely to hit apple production the mainstay of the farm economy in eight districts of the state officials said on MondayThe states apple production was at 699 lakh Metric tonnes in 2025 which is estimated to be around 436 MT in 2026 about 215 crore boxes a huge drop of 263 MT they addedThe area under apple cultivation is about 116 lakh acres about 49 per cent of the total area under fruit crops which is 237 lakh hectares and production was 699 lakh MT in 2025 which is estimated to drop to 436 lakh MT during 2026 said Director Horticulture Satish KumarAbout 25 lakh families are involved in apple farming Orchardists are worried because in addition to weatherrelated uncertainties causing huge losses production costs have also increased due to higher prices for inputs such as medicines and machinery Stone fruit crops also suffered heavy losses due to inclement weatherThe apple production this year has declined due to unfavourable weather conditions as neither snow nor rains came on time said apple orchardist Balwant Justa Due to a lack of irrigation facilities we are dependent on the weather he addedGrowers have urged the government to provide irrigation facilities to every orchardist and make them aware about the crop insurance scheme so that the losses could be recovered to some extentThe states apple economy was about Rs 5000 crore but this year it is likely to be proportionately less Kumar said adding that the stone fruit production was also on decline due to global warming and climate change rising temperatures 1 to 15 degree Celsius but the growers are fetching good returnsAccording to data from the horticulture department in terms of boxes the apple production was 349 crore in 202526 251 crore in 202425 211 crore in 202324 336 crore in 202223 305 crore in 202122 and 240 crore in 202021 flagging startling variations and gaps in productionThe area under apple production has expanded phenomenally from 400 hectares in 195051 to 116338 hectares in the 202425 fiscal year while 27386 hectares are dedicated to stone fruitsRegarding stone fruits which mainly include apricot cherry peach and plum the area under cultivation is 17306 hectares and production is expected to decrease slightly from 24622 last year to about 23000 this yearTemperatures are high with inadequate chilling hours additionally hailstorms have damaged the apple crop input costs have increased and production is going down said an apple grower Virender SinghDesired cooling chilling hours 1200 to 1600 below 7 degrees C are required for traditional varieties of apple and 600 hours for early varieties according to the President of the Fruit Vegetable Flower Growers Association Harish ChauhanRaghubeer Singh Chauhan another orchardist said that income is going down and it is becoming difficult to sustain on farming as we are dependent on the weather and there is a dire need to strengthen irrigation facilities We are also not aware of the crop insurance schemesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever