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Bad weather gives good start to apple crop in Himachal

Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh can ‘chill’ for now as the weather Gods this time have showered good start for…

Bad weather gives good start to apple crop in Himachal

Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh can ‘chill’ for now as the weather Gods this time have showered good start for the fruit crop.

It rained for two days across the state and upper Shimla district received snow on Tuesday- which is seen favourable to meet chilling requirement of apple plants just on time.

Upper parts of Shimla district, including JubbalKotkhai, produce 70 per cent of apple produce in Himachal.

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“It is a good beginning. Mid December onwards, the apple plants need 1000 to 1200 chilling hours ( depending on variety), and snowfall in the apple belt at this time helps a lot in proper bloom a few months later,” SP Bhardwaj, a horticulture expert, who retired as Joint Director from Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry told The Statesman.

The rain and snow is most welcome at this time, when the moisture in soil had got depleted in the wake of dry spell over last three months.

For past many years, there was a shift in winters and the snowfall occurred in late January or February, which was not suitable for apple crop.

It had, however, snowed in higher hills of Himachal from mid-December to mid-January after a long gap in 2016, which was good for apple crop in dormancy period.

This time, the weather has turned favourable for apple early.

The chilling requirement of apple plants is met with by temperature below 7 degree Celsius, but good snow gives multiple benefits.

Chilling is stated to be the physiological requirement of apple plant before flowering. If met properly, the flowering is better and the fruit setting is effective.

The apple economy in Himachal Pradesh runs into Rs 4000 crore with around 1.5 lakh families associated with it, mainly in Shimla, Kullu and Kinnaur district.

Official records say that apple is produced on 1.25 lakh hectares in the state with productivity as low as 3-4 tonnes per hectare.

The apple production in Himachal Pradesh is around 4 crore boxes (one box is 20 kilograms) if the crop is good.

The state generally contributes 40 per cent of total apple production in India, followed by Kashmir, which is at the top with 50 per cent production.

“Weather pattern at every step is important to get good fruit harvest. We have our fingers crossed in the run up to flowering and then fruit ripening in apple plants. In 2016, despite initial good weather, there was lesser apple production (around 2 crore boxes) for reasons after flowering,” said some apple growers. There are other factors too, which are regularly contributing to low productivity of apples in HP.

The apple orchards in the state are over aged and worn out with some diseases also setting in.  An apple plant has an age of 60-70 years, but in HP, many apple orchards are 80-100 years old.

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