Unusually warm weather conditions in the hill State of Himachal Pradesh during the second half of March month have left apple growers and horticulture experts anxious, as they are concerned over the prevailing higher temperatures during this time of the season of the year, against previous years.
Horticulture experts and growers told The Hindu that if the temperatures do not drop any time soon and the dry weather conditions continue to prevail the apple crop could be adversely affected in terms of yield and production. The new plantations of apple in the orchards are quite susceptible to the warm climatic conditions and could face damage.
Apple is the most important fruit crop of Himachal Pradesh, which constitutes about 49% of the total area under fruit crops and about 85% of the total fruit production.
