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

Last year, when the state was ravaged by devastating floods, the total apple production was 4.84 LMT, which was almost 28 per cent less than 2022 when production was 6.72 LMT. While apple production saw a decline last year, the area under the crop increased from 1,15,016 hectares in 2022 to 1,15,680 hectares in Himachal Pradesh in 2023. Apple constitutes about 49% of the total area under fruit crops in the state and about 82.5% of the total fruit production in the state.

Data obtained from the Himachal Pradesh State Agriculture Marketing Board (HPSAMB) further states that the number of apple cartons received so far saw a significant increase compared to the previous year. While this year till October 3, markets got the fruits packed in 1.82 crore universal cartons, last year in the same period, the apple was received in 1.60 crore cartons.

While last year, the weight of each carton was 24 kg, this year, apples were packed in 10 kg and 20 kg cartons with the 10 kg holding 1.3 lakh units of the fruit and the 20 kg accommodating 1.69 crore pieces.

With the introduction of Universal Cartons in April this year for packaging of apple from this season, apples are now being boxed in layers having an average weight of around 20 kg. The universal box was introduced in place of telescopic cartons, which could be expanded for adjusting additional layers of fruit in a box. As a result, the telescopic cartons could carry up to 35-36 kg of fruit instead of 20-22 kg.

Shimla-based apple grower Rakesh Rajta said that because of the standard size universal cartons, the number of boxes has increased but it doesn’t mean that the production has increased too. “The government had said that it will increase income of apple growers but on the ground we are yet to see that,” he 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 apple is produced in all 12 districts of the state, Shimla, Kinnaur, Mandi, Solan and Kullu lead in the production.

Vinay Singh, director of Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Department, said that the season is yet to end and good quality apples, especially Royal Delicious, Golden Delicious etc. have just started reaching the mandis from the high altitude areas such as Kinnaur. “Apples grown in the high altitude usually weigh more. By the end of this apple season, we are sure that the overall production will be the same as last year. In fact, it might also increase. This year, the state government had fixed a target of 5.82 LMT apple production in the state,” he said.

However, apple growers maintained that the production will be low and total number of cartons, including 10kg and 20kg will remain between 2.20 crore and 2.50 crore, which is way short of the state government’s target of 4.50 crore cartons.

Orchardist Naresh Kashyap from Theog in Shimla said, “As per the trend, I don’t believe that the apple production will meet last year’s 4.84 LMT figure and the number of cartons will also not go beyond 2.50 crore. There are multiple reasons for this. This year apple season started with a delay. Alternaria leaf spot on apple plants prior to the season especially in the higher reaches also brought down the yield.”

When asked why apple production is going downwards in the state, Kushal Singh Mehta, senior officer with the State Horticulture Department, said that production of the crop is decreasing but the government is trying to introduce new varieties of the fruit. “Many apple plantations were very old by now and are being replaced by new plantations. New plants take time to deliver fruits. This year, a fungul infection had also affected many orchards. Some farmers are also moving towards other crops for year-round profits. However, we are committed to protect the rights of farmers and so the government had introduced universal cartons.”