Heat hits apple crop in fruit bowl of India

Soaring temperatures coupled with insufficient rain have taken a toll on apple production in Himachal Pradesh with 25 per cent of the crop suffering damage.

Soaring temperatures coupled with insufficient rain have taken a toll on apple production in Himachal Pradesh with 25 per cent of the crop suffering damage.

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Apple crop in the low and middle hills has been badly hit and if the monsoon fails to arrive even next week the crop in the upper hills would also be affected, K R Dhiman, Vice Chancellor of Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Nauni, in Solan district told PTI.

“The damage to the Apple crop because of rising mercury and absence of rain is estimated to be around 25 per cent,” he said.

Moreover, the adverse climate has also affected the size of apples, the Vice Chancellor of Chaudhary Shrawan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, Tej Pratap. said.

The hill state known for its cool climes is witnessing hot conditions presently. Temperature is hovering around 30 degree Celsius in the queen of hills in the month of June as compared to 24-25 degrees in previous years.

HP has received 60 per cent deficit rainfall this year, Director State Meteorological centre, Manmohan Singh told PTI.