Severe weather patterns hit Himachal Pradesh's apple production

Himachal Pradesh's apple industry is facing a major setback as unseasonal rain, hailstorms and prolonged weather fluctuations have severely damaged orchards across the state. Farmers say the weather struck during the crucial flowering stage, resulting in one of the weakest apple harvests in recent years. Growers also blame the lack of winter snowfall, delayed rainfall and prolonged drought for the poor crop, while rising costs of pesticides, medicines and farm inputs have added to their financial burden. In response, the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Department has announced plans to distribute high-quality, climate-resilient feathered apple saplings after December to improve future productivity. Officials expect this season's apple output to be lower than last year's but hope the new high-density plants will strengthen the sector over time. Apple cultivation supports lakhs of livelihoods in Himachal Pradesh, making climate change an increasingly serious threat to the state's rural economy and horticulture industry.