Monsoon failure causes losses to Apple Farmers in Himachal Pradesh

The monsoon’s arrival at the end of June in Himachal Pradesh failed to bring sufficient rainfall, creating drought-like conditions. As a result, thousands of apple plants have withered in Himachal, leading to huge losses for local farmers.

Though the monsoon began in June in Himachal Pradesh, rainfall has been minimal. This insufficient rainfall has severely impacted the region’s horticulture. Apples have not been able to grow properly, and the plants planted in January and February have dried up. Farmers of Himachal are suffering significant financial losses due to the drought the apple plants have dried up.

Drought has inflicted heavy damage on Apples, Pears, and Plums: Most of the affected plants were planted by farmers between December and February. Additionally, many plants planted last year have also withered, causing losses in the lakhs. The timeline for preparing new orchards has been pushed back by two years. The drought in June has inflicted severe damage on apples, pears, and plums. Apples have suffered the most. The horticulture department has compiled a report on the drought’s damage and submitted it to the government.

There has been a significant loss for Apple farmers in Himachal according to the horticulture department. Himanshu, Rohit Thakur, and Amit few of the local farmers have reported that the apple plants planted this year have dried up due to the lack of rain. They initially faced storms in April and May, and the absence of rain in June has further dashed their hopes.