Snow in Shimla, Kullu Manali, Mandi and other apple growing areas of Himachal Pradesh has brought smile on the faces of growers. The economy of the Himalayan state is highly dependent on horticulture with the fruit industry of the hill state worth about Rs 2,000 crore per year. Apple is the main fruit crop of Himachal Pradesh and is being grown in nine out of 12 districts and accounts for about 40% of the total area under all fruit crop cultivation.
More than 2,00, 000 families in the state are engaged in apple cultivation and 90% of them are small and marginal farmers with an average holding of less than 0.6 hectares.
Last year, the total apple yield in Himachal Pradesh was 2.46 crore boxes. Though it is too early to predict this year?s apple yield, but the onset of the snowfall season is good for the proper nourishment of the plants as snow is considered as white manure in apple orchards.
Talking to FE, Dr K R Dhiman, vice chancellor of Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Sloan, said: ?The apple crop requires 700 to 1400 hours of chilling with the temperature at 7 degrees Celsius or less. The recent snow has brought down the temperature considerably and has increased moisture content in the soil that would help plants get nutrients in the pre-flowering season. If there are repeated snowfalls upto March, the state would surely get a bumper apple crop?.
Dr Dhiman told FE that ?snowfall at this time is excellent for all deciduous fruits like apple, plum and apricot as it not only protects plants and fruits from the attack of insecticides, but also provides soil moisture needed for flowering?.
This is also the time when apple, cherry and kiwi crops need proper chilly conditions and adequate moisture content. The snowfall was also good for the kiwi and cherry crops. Kiwi cultivation is taking roots in the higher reaches of the state. Besides apples, fruits like pears, peaches, cherries and plums are the major commercial crops of HP.
Due to western disturbance, higher reaches of Himalayas saw snowfall and rainfall in the lower parts on December 29, 30 and January 3. Apple growers had been eagerly waiting the snowfall required for the fruit. Experts say the snowfall had ended the December?s intense dry cold wave which could have severely affected the yield.