Orchards Under Axe: Himachal’s Apple Farmers Fight for Survival
Under the shadow of the Himalayas, a quiet devastation is unfolding. Chainsaws roar through century-old apple orchards as farmers watch helplessly – their life’s work reduced to stumps in minutes. The Apple Farmers’ Federation of India (AFFI) is now leading an urgent fight to stop what they call “legalized destruction” of Himachal’s apple belt.
Heartbreak in the Apple Belt
In the picturesque villages of Chaitla and Sarahan, the air smells of freshly cut wood instead of ripening apples. “They came with police protection and gave us no time to even harvest,” says 62-year-old Prem Singh, his calloused hands gripping the severed trunk of a tree his grandfather planted. “This was my pension plan – now I have nothing.”
The crisis began when the High Court ordered the felling of trees on “encroached forest land.” But farmers argue they’ve tended these orchards for generations after being encouraged to cultivate wasteland in the 1960s.
A Race Against Time
With just two months until harvest season:
- 4,000 mature apple trees already destroyed
- 60 families homeless after dwellings were sealed
- 300 bighas of prime orchard land cleared
“This isn’t just about trees,” explains AFFI convenor Yusuf Tarigami. “Each felled tree represents:
→ 5 years of growth before first fruit
→ ₹50,000 annual income for a family
→ 20+ years of careful nurturing”
The Human Cost
The forest department’s actions have created heartbreaking scenes:
- A widow’s two-acre orchard – her only source of income – razed in hours
- Schoolchildren weeping as their family’s “apple fund” for education disappears
- Elderly farmers suffering stress-induced health crises
Why Farmers Are Fighting Back
On July 29, thousands will march to Shimla’s Secretariat demanding:
- Immediate moratorium on tree felling
- Scientific review of the ecological value of orchards
- Fair settlement for affected families
“These orchards prevent soil erosion better than any government project,” says agronomist Dr. Meera Sharma. “Destroying them now, during climate crisis, is ecological suicide.”
How You Can Help
- Spread awareness using #SaveHimachalApples
- Support affected families via AFFI relief fund
- Write to HP Chief Minister demanding intervention
As the protest grows, one farmer’s sign captures the mood: “They call it encroachment – we call it home.”
Stand with Himachal’s farmers – before the last apple tree falls.
Did You Know?
- Himachal produces 30% of India’s apples
- Apple farming supports 5 lakh families directly
- Orchards prevent 40% more soil erosion than natural forests in hill areas
