Apple Production – Himachal Pradesh Faces Sharp Decline After Weather Damage
Apple Production – Himachal Pradesh is expected to record a major fall in apple production this year after erratic weather patterns affected orchards across several districts. Unseasonal rainfall, flash floods, landslides, hailstorms and changing temperatures have damaged the crop, raising concerns for the state’s apple-based farm economy, estimated to be worth around Rs 5,000 crore.
Crop Estimate Shows Significant Fall
The state horticulture department has projected apple production at nearly 4.36 lakh metric tonnes in 2026, compared with 6.99 lakh metric tonnes in 2025. The estimate indicates a reduction of about 2.63 lakh metric tonnes, with output likely to fall by 40 to 60 per cent depending on weather conditions and orchard-level assessments.
Apple cultivation remains central to farming activity in eight districts of Himachal Pradesh. Officials estimate that the crop may produce around 2.15 crore boxes this season, although growers’ groups believe the final number could be lower.
Weather Conditions Affect Orchard Growth
Director of Horticulture Satish Kumar said apple orchards cover about 1.16 lakh hectares in the state, accounting for nearly 49 per cent of the total area under fruit cultivation. Himachal Pradesh has around 2.37 lakh hectares under fruit crops, making horticulture a major source of income for thousands of rural households.
The apple crop depends heavily on adequate winter chilling, timely snowfall and balanced spring temperatures. This season, insufficient snowfall and irregular rain disrupted flowering and fruit development in several orchard belts. Hailstorms also caused direct damage to fruit-bearing trees in some areas.
Production Has Varied Widely in Recent Years
Official records show large changes in apple output over the past few seasons. Production stood at 3.49 crore boxes in 2025-26, compared with 2.51 crore boxes in 2024-25 and 2.11 crore boxes in 2023-24. Earlier, growers produced 3.36 crore boxes in 2022-23, 3.05 crore boxes in 2021-22 and 2.40 crore boxes in 2020-21.
The area under apple farming has expanded considerably over the decades. It rose from around 400 hectares in 1950-51 to more than 1.16 lakh hectares during 2024-25, reflecting the crop’s importance to the hill state’s agricultural economy.
Growers Expect Lower Box Output
Fruit Vegetable Flower Growers Association president Harish Chauhan said growers expect a steeper decline than the government’s preliminary estimate. According to the association, apple production may fall by nearly 60 per cent, with the crop likely to produce around 1.80 crore boxes instead of the projected 2.15 crore boxes.
Chauhan said early estimates often change because fruit size, weather conditions and orchard performance vary across regions. He added that growers’ groups collect feedback directly from orchardists, while the government conducts assessments through horticulture development officers.
Irrigation and Insurance Remain Key Concerns
Growers have linked the decline to delayed snow, inadequate rainfall and a shortage of irrigation facilities. Traditional apple varieties need between 1,200 and 1,600 chilling hours below 7 degrees Celsius, while early varieties require around 600 hours. Higher temperatures and fewer chilling hours have affected fruit-setting in many orchards.
Stone fruits, including apricot, cherry, peach and plum, are also expected to see a modest decline. Production is estimated at about 23,000 metric tonnes this year, down from 24,622 metric tonnes last season.
Growers have asked the state government to expand irrigation coverage, improve awareness of crop insurance schemes and support orchardists facing higher input costs. They say stronger irrigation systems and wider insurance access could help reduce losses caused by increasingly unpredictable weather.