Rising temperatures in the major Indian apple-growing state of Himachal Pradesh are pushing cultivation to higher areas, news wire IANS reports. 

Changing conditions are pushing up production into newer areas for apples such as the Lahaul Valley. Photo: Himalayan Trails, via Wikimedia Commons

Research undertaken by the Regional Centre, National Afforestation and Eco-development Board and Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry shows climate change has driven apple farming to higher, sparsely vegetated lands including Lahaul and Spiti Valley.

The report added traditional apple-growing areas like the low-lying valley of Kullu have now become "marginal", with greater diversification to other farming operations like kiwifruit, pomegranates and vegetable seed production.

"The snow line once considered as ‘white manure’ for the apple crop and forest cover necessary for conservation and recharge of natural water bodies has also shifted upward to higher hills," the study states.

"Therefore, the quality apple production has shifted to higher hills and dry temperate zones of Kinnaur and Spiti areas."

Higher temperatures have also led to the faster ripening of fruit without obtaining the best coloring, while "erratic" rainfall has made cultivation more challenging.

In addition, the study reported mango and citrus trees in the lower hills drying due to more incidents of frost in the winter.

"Temperate tree species are also moving to higher elevation and their sites were being taken by the tropical and subtropical tree species," the study states.

The study made a case for more efforts to develop new strains and varieties of food crops that could counteract the adverse effects of heat, drought, changing growing periods and erratic rainfall patterns.

The IANS reported apples made up 49% of the total area for fruit crops in the state, and they were mostly produced in the districts of Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi, Chamba and some parts of Sirmaur.

Apple constitutes about 49 per cent of the total area under fruit crops. In Himachal, apple is mainly cultivated in the districts of 

"Several progressive farmers of the state are now opting for industrial crops such as mushrooms, flowers, off-season vegetables, mostly because of climate change," Himachal Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary Tarun Sridhar told the news wire service.

The story reported Sridhar added climate changed had pushed up the use of pesticides, insecticides and chemical fertilizers, with new crop diseases also appearing.

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