Himachal Pradesh is projected to experience a drastic reduction in its apple production this year, with output anticipated to fall short of 50 percent of last year’s yield. The state, a significant contributor to India’s apple market, has marketed only 1.37 crore boxes of apples so far as the harvest season nears its end.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that when apples procured under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) and those stored in controlled-atmosphere (CA) facilities are included, the total production is expected to range between 1.60 crore and 1.70 crore boxes. This figure represents the second-lowest output recorded in Himachal Pradesh in the past 15 years. The state’s peak apple production occurred in 2010-11, reaching over 4.46 crore boxes. Since then, annual production has consistently remained below the four-crore mark, with output dipping below two crore boxes only three times, including the current year. The lowest production recorded was 1.37 crore boxes in 2011-12, followed by 1.84 crore boxes in 2018-19.
The sharp decline in this year’s apple harvest has been attributed by officials to highly erratic weather patterns experienced throughout the growing season. According to Satish Sharma, Director of the Department of Horticulture, the state witnessed sharp temperature drops during the crucial flowering period in many regions. Additionally, inadequate chilling hours, essential for fruit development, and frequent hailstorms significantly impacted crop yield and quality.
Despite an increase in the area dedicated to apple cultivation, which has grown by approximately 15 percent over the last 15 years, the overall production has failed to approach the record levels achieved over a decade ago. While growers have been progressively adopting high-density apple cultivation techniques aimed at enhancing yield and quality, the visible impact of these shifts is still several years away.
The average productivity of apples in Himachal Pradesh stands at about 5-6 metric tonnes per hectare. This contrasts sharply with leading apple-producing nations such as New Zealand, where productivity often exceeds 55 metric tonnes per hectare and can reach up to 80 metric tonnes in highly advanced orchards. The Directorate of Horticulture has identified two primary factors, beyond the adverse weather conditions, contributing to the stagnant or declining apple production in the state.
Mr. Sharma elaborated that a significant number of traditional apple orchards have aged, leading to a natural decrease in their productivity. Concurrently, the transition to high-density cultivation, though a positive long-term strategy, is a gradual process, and its benefits are expected to be fully realized over the next four to five years. The department is actively engaged in promoting the use of high-quality planting material to support growers in improving both the yield and quality of their produce.
The Department of Horticulture plans to distribute between 8 to 10 lakh quality apple plants to growers during the current season. These initiatives are expected to contribute to a boost in both the quantity and quality of fruit produced in the coming years, offering a potential pathway to recovery for the state’s vital apple industry.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
