Heat Waves, Drought followed by invasion of pests Devastate Apple Crop in Himachal Pradesh. The farmers reel under Huge crisis as there is no assistance and relief from State and Central Governments...
SHIMLA: The apple crop in Himachal Pradesh is facing its worst crisis in recent memory, as prolonged heat waves and an extended dry spell wreak havoc.
Thousands of new trees have dried up
These climatic events have triggered an invasion of pests in the apple orchards nailing proverbial last nail in the coffin of the apple industry.
The invasion of fake fungicides and pesticides and fertilizers and so all micronutrients in the markets have worsened the plight of the Rs 5000 Crore apple industry.
There is a collusion of "agents and the companies" minting money in the bargain under the nose of the state agri and horticulture departments, which have failed to take action, testing and monitoring the suppliers and manufacturers, resent the farmer
"We are apply sprays and fertilizers as recommended by the Nauni university, but there is no effect as sprays produce other set of diseases".
This year, apple orchards have been hit hard, with poor pollination leading to a significant drop in fruit setting by 50%.
Now, the situation has worsened with a drought that has lasted over 40 days, leaving apples shriveled and undersized, observed Dr Vijay Thakur, former Vice-Chancellor of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni Solan.
In areas like Patshal, Gazta, and Kharapathar, orchards under protective white nets reveal a grim scene: either no fruit has set, or the little that did has dropped prematurely.
He says the initial poor setting was due to ineffective pollination within a critical four-day window, exacerbated by the heat.
Farmers are now anxious as young plantations, aged 3-4 years, are showing signs of severe stress, with trees drooping even at temperatures of 27°C on northern slopes at elevations of 7,200 feet.
The rising threat from pests like mites and woolly aphids, which are feeding voraciously on the crops, is further compounding the problem.
June has brought little relief, with daytime temperatures stuck around 32°C and only slightly cooler nights providing any respite. The apple farming community is grappling with skyrocketing costs for fertilizers and pesticides, which have doubled over the past decade.
Despite the mounting crisis, there has been no relief from the state Congress government or the central government, with no crop loan waivers or incentives offered to ease the burden on the apple economy in Himachal Pradesh.
As the clock ticks down with just 40 days left to salvage the season, apple farmers are staring at a bleak future, unsure of how to recover from this year's devastating losses.
