State sees bumper apple crop Apple growers will have much to cheer with the hill state heading for a good apple crop after two consecutive lean seasons. As per the second assessment carried out by the Horticulture Department, the state will have a bumper crop despite significant fruit dropping over the past fortnight. The output can be between 3.60 crore and four crore standard boxes. Initial estimates had indicated a crop comparable with the 2010 when the state had a record harvest of 4.46 crore boxes. However, dropping of fruit, a normal phenomenon, has been on the higher side and some pockets in the Kotgarh area were hit by hailstorms which will affect production. The estimate for Shimla district, which accounts for almost two-thirds of the production, has been revised from 2.89 crore boxes from the first estimate to 2.50 crore in the second estimate. Last year, the state produced only 2.04 crore boxes and 2011 was worse when the output was a meagre 1.36 crore boxes. If the monsoon arrives in time, as predicted, and there is no dry spell, the production can be 80 per cent to 90 per cent more compared to last year. Director, Horticulture, Gurdev Singh said by all accounts, it was going to be a good crop, but the production would be correctly estimated after the June droppings. Incomplete pollination was responsible for the premature dropping of fruit and unfavourable conditions like dry spells and hailstorms aggravated the problem. Weather-wise, it has been a good year with apple-growing areas experience abundant and timely snow during winter. Snow is considered white manure for apple orchards and will help break the succession of poor crops. It was after several years that the state had good snow as early as the first week of January. It not only fulfilled the minimum chilling requirement, but also improved the moisture level in the soil. The apple production has not stabilised as is evident from the fact that the lowest production of 1.96 lakh tonne was recorded in 1999 and the highest in 2010 when the state produced 6.46 crore of boxes. This year has also been good for cherry. The state has a bumper crop, but the returns have not been good as prices remained low throughout the season. On an average, the rates were 50 to 80 per cent less compared to last year, says Ranjeet Mehta, a leading grower of the Kotgarh area. Boon for growers The output can be between 3.60 crore and 4 crore standard boxes If monsoon arrives in time, the production can be 90 per cent more compared to last year Production will be correctly estimated after June droppings tribuneindia/2013/20130611/himachal.htm#1
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:03:38 +0000
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