Himachal's apple economy thrives this season, yet production declines

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], October 10 : Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh are celebrating high prices this season, but concerns about shifting horticultural practices and a steady decline in annual production are casting a shadow over the future.
According to official figures, nearly 2.25 crore apple boxes have been sent to markets so far, with growers initially fetching between Rs 3,000 and Rs 3,500 per 20-kilogram box of apples.
Narendra Thakur, a local trader, confirmed that this year's rates have been very favourable for farmers. "In July and August, apple growers were getting prices between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 per 20 kg box," he said.
Even though prices dipped briefly, farmers still managed to sell boxes for Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 during that period. Thakur noted that the majority of this year's apples were packed and sold using Paytm cards, with approximately 2.15 crore transactions completed. Notably, around 1.25 crore boxes were sold within Himachal Pradesh's temples, while roughly a crore were sold outside the state.
"The Dali Mandi in Shimla alone has seen sales of over 12 lakh paper boxes, contributing to a business turnover of around Rs 1,500 crore in the Himachal market," Thakur added.
He attributed the good pricing to the government's introduction of universal cartons, which allowed farmers to sell lighter boxes at higher rates. "While I've been working in Bangladesh and Nepal for 20 years supplying Shiv (a variety of apples), this year I limited my exports to Nepal and haven't supplied to Bangladesh."
Mohammad, a trader from Jharkhand, noted that despite the good quality of apples, some traders have experienced losses due to changes in packaging materials.
"Early on, services were well-priced, but as the season progresses, the challenges are mounting. The season is nearing its end, with only about 15 days left, and smaller traders have faced more difficulties than larger ones," he said.
Naresh Kumar, an apple farmer, echoed concerns about declining prices as the season moves on. "This year, prices have been lower overall compared to last year. Farmers at lower altitudes initially got good rates, but as apples from higher elevations started coming in, prices began dropping," he explained.
Kumar indicated that mid- and high-altitude farmers did not benefit as much this season, partly due to lower crop yields. "The lack of snowfall and erratic weather conditions negatively impacted production, and many farmers are struggling to recover their investments. There is market profit, but it's not substantial enough to make up for reduced crop yields. Universal packaging has helped to some extent, but overall, there's still a noticeable decline."
Meanwhile, Jagat Singh Negi, Himachal Pradesh's Horticulture Minister, expressed concern over changing weather patterns and the state's declining per-hectare production compared to other apple-producing regions. He stressed that both the government and farmers need to adapt to these changes by adopting high-density plantation methods and implementing advanced agricultural techniques to boost production.
Himachal Pradesh has 11 lakh hectares of land under cultivation, with two lakh hectares dedicated to fruit orchards. Apple cultivation occupies around 1 lakh hectares, making up 50 percent of the state's fruit-growing areas. On average, the state produces about 5.5 lakh metric tons of apples annually.
The apple economy is vital to thousands of families, contributing over Rs 5,500 crore to the state's economy each year. However, this year's production is expected to drop by 40 percent, a significant reduction that has many stakeholders worried about the future of apple farming in the state.