Low apple crop this year in HP due to adverse weather

THERE is likely to be a 50 per cent dip in the apple crop output in Himachal Pradesh this year due to heavy rains and late snowfall. Further, the quality of the crop is also likely to be affected even as the prices go up by 30 to 60 per cent.

- HARPREET BAJWA

Sources said that as per official estimates, the apple production this year will fall be between one-and-a-half and two crore boxes as against 3.36 crore boxes last year.

For the past four years, the apple production has been around three crore boxes annually.

Since 2010, when the highest ever production level was recorded in the history of the hill state at over four crore boxes, the production has fallen below two crore boxes only thrice: in 2011, 2012 and 2018.