Unusually warm weather conditions in the hill State of Himachal Pradesh during the second half of March month have left apple growers and horticulture experts anxious, as they are concerned over the prevailing higher temperatures during this time of the season of the year, against previous years.
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Horticulture experts and growers told The Hindu that if the temperatures do not drop any time soon and the dry weather conditions continue to prevail the apple crop could be adversely affected in terms of yield and production. The new plantations of apple in the orchards are quite susceptible to the warm climatic conditions and could face damage.
Apple is the most important fruit crop of Himachal Pradesh, which constitutes about 49% of the total area under fruit crops and about 85% of the total fruit production.
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Bhupinder Sharma, an apple growers Kotgarh area in Himachal Pradesh, who has a family orchard in over 10 ‘bhiga’ (1.60 hectares), said if the weather continues to be warm it will severely impact the quality, yield and production of the crop. “The apple crop in my orchard has already reached the ‘flowering’ stage, which usually used to start in the first week of April. The temperature has been unusually higher this year in comparison to the previous years. The advancing of the growing pattern will dent apple size and colour, eventually damaging the quality of the crop. The yield (productivity) will also be hit adversely, resulting in the drop of production,” he said.
Sunil Reikta, another apple grower at Samoli village in Rohru, expressed serious concern over the prevailing warm climatic conditions. “The sudden rise in temperature is not conducive for the apple crop. The entire process of crops’ growing has advanced owing to an unusual rise in mercury. This will adversely impact the ‘fruit setting’ of the crop,” he said.
Maximum and minimum temperatures have been hovering appreciably above the normal range in most parts of the State, and any respite is unlikely in the coming days. Since the past fortnight, the average maximum temperature has been 5-7 degrees Celsius above normal while the average minimum temperature has been 3-4 degrees Celsius above normal at many places of Himachal Pradesh, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). The department in its advisory has suggested apple growers to apply irrigation in apple orchards due to dry weather conditions.
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“Both the maximum and minimum temperatures have been abnormally higher this year during the past few days and are expected to continue to be a little higher than usual for the next few days. Even there is hardly any chance of respite in the coming days as by and large the temperature is likely to prevail above normal. In the next fortnight, one or two spells of light rain and thunderstorm are expected, but the temperature is expected to remain above-normal,” said Surinder Pal, director at IMD, Shimla.
Horticulture experts believe that while the above-normal temperature may not immediately affect the apple crop’s condition, but if the weather condition continues to stay warmer for another 18-20 days, then definitely the apple crop could suffer damage.
Horticulture scientist and a former joint director with University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, S.P. Bhardwaj said that while the ongoing unusual warm weather conditions may not adversely impact the old apple planted trees, however, the new plantations, which are a couple of years old could face a negative impact on growth.
“This year, during the winter season there were intermittent spells of snow and rain as well, due to which the there’s adequate moisture in the soil so far. And, hence, the higher temperature should not be an immediate matter of concern. However, if the temperature continues to be above normal and dry weather conditions continue for another 20 days or more then definitely the situation for the apple crop would be worrisome,” he said.