Himachal’s apple growers face Rs 90 crore loss

SHIMLA: Untimely rainfall, late snow, hailstorms and persistent bad weather have caused losses of around Rs 90 crore to apple growers in Himachal Pradesh. A preliminary report prepared by the horticulture department has shown that the apple crop suffered damage worth Rs 67 crore in Shimla district alone. With 20 to 30% less production likely this year, apple growers of Himachal are a worried lot.

Apple plays an important role in the hill state's economy with around nine out of 12 districts producing the fruit. Apple economy is pegged at around Rs 2,500 crore and the area under apple cultivation has increased from just 400 hectares in 1950-51 to 3,025 hectares in 1960-61 and 1,01,485 hectares in 2010-11.

According to sources in the horticulture department, preliminary report from seven districts shows a loss of around Rs 90 crore. In Kullu district apple crop faced a loss of around Rs 9.44 crore while in Mandi the loss is estimated to be around Rs 2.37 crore.

"Temperatures were not right for the growth of apple crop. Pollination is hit due to low temperatures,'' said Rati Ram Chauhan, 82, an orchard owner from Pronthi in Jubbal area of Shimla.

Associate director of regional horticulture and research station BS Thakur said that for the flowering process a minimum of 18 degrees C temperature or up is required.