Apple production sees 6.39% decline in Himachal this year, fungal infection, old plantations to be blamed

Last year, erstwhile the authorities was ravaged by devastating floods, the total pome accumulation was 4.84 LMT, which was astir 28 per cent little than 2022 erstwhile accumulation was 6.72 LMT. While pome accumulation saw a diminution past year, the country nether the harvest accrued from 1,15,016 hectares successful 2022 to 1,15,680 hectares successful Himachal Pradesh successful 2023. Apple constitutes astir 49% of the full country nether effect crops successful the authorities and astir 82.5% of the full effect accumulation successful the state.

Data obtained from the Himachal Pradesh State Agriculture Marketing Board (HPSAMB) further states that the fig of pome cartons received truthful acold saw a important summation compared to the erstwhile year. While this twelvemonth till October 3, markets got the fruits packed successful 1.82 crore cosmopolitan cartons, past twelvemonth successful the aforesaid period, the pome was received successful 1.60 crore cartons.

While past year, the value of each carton was 24 kg, this year, apples were packed successful 10 kg and 20 kg cartons with the 10 kg holding 1.3 lakh units of the effect and the 20 kg accommodating 1.69 crore pieces.

With the instauration of Universal Cartons successful April this twelvemonth for packaging of pome from this season, apples are present being boxed successful layers having an mean value of astir 20 kg. The cosmopolitan container was introduced successful spot of telescopic cartons, which could beryllium expanded for adjusting further layers of effect successful a box. As a result, the telescopic cartons could transportation up to 35-36 kg of effect alternatively of 20-22 kg.

Shimla-based pome grower Rakesh Rajta said that due to the fact that of the modular size cosmopolitan cartons, the fig of boxes has accrued but it doesn’t mean that the accumulation has accrued too. “The authorities had said that it volition summation income of pome growers but connected the crushed we are yet to spot that,” helium said.

Of the 1.82 crore cartons, 1.12 crore were from districts Shimla and Kinnaur collectively, followed by 33.82 lakh from Solan, 20.51 lakh from Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti. Although pome is produced successful each 12 districts of the state, Shimla, Kinnaur, Mandi, Solan and Kullu pb successful the production.

Vinay Singh, manager of Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Department, said that the play is yet to extremity and bully prime apples, particularly Royal Delicious, Golden Delicious etc. person conscionable started reaching the mandis from the precocious altitude areas specified arsenic Kinnaur. “Apples grown successful the precocious altitude usually measurement more. By the extremity of this pome season, we are definite that the wide accumulation volition beryllium the aforesaid arsenic past year. In fact, it mightiness besides increase. This year, the authorities authorities had fixed a people of 5.82 LMT pome accumulation successful the state,” helium said.

However, pome growers maintained that the accumulation volition beryllium debased and full fig of cartons, including 10kg and 20kg volition stay betwixt 2.20 crore and 2.50 crore, which is mode abbreviated of the authorities government’s people of 4.50 crore cartons.

Orchardist Naresh Kashyap from Theog successful Shimla said, “As per the trend, I don’t judge that the pome accumulation volition conscionable past year’s 4.84 LMT fig and the fig of cartons volition besides not spell beyond 2.50 crore. There are aggregate reasons for this. This twelvemonth pome play started with a delay. Alternaria leafage spot connected pome plants anterior to the play particularly successful the higher reaches besides brought down the yield.”

When asked wherefore pome accumulation is going downwards successful the state, Kushal Singh Mehta, elder serviceman with the State Horticulture Department, said that accumulation of the harvest is decreasing but the authorities is trying to present caller varieties of the fruit. “Many pome plantations were precise aged by present and are being replaced by caller plantations. New plants instrumentality clip to present fruits. This year, a fungul corruption had besides affected galore orchards. Some farmers are besides moving towards different crops for year-round profits. However, we are committed to support the rights of farmers and truthful the authorities had introduced cosmopolitan cartons.”