Apple crop hit hard by adverse weather in Uttarakhand

September 5th, 2009 SHIMLA - An exhibition of apples was organised at Kotkhai, 60 kilometres off Shimla, to showcase special varieties of the fruit and promote them among the orchard owners and growers. The exhibition happened to mark the silver jubilee of the annual Apple Show in which 452 farmers exhibited 30 advanced varieties of apples.

August 31st, 2009 SHIMLA - The low apple crop production in Himachal Pradesh has led to loss of business and unemployment in the state. Many people have been left jobless in the state, as apple crop production has come down by almost seventy five percent.

August 6th, 2009 Most US apple growers expecting good yieldALBANY, N.Y. — Heavy rains in the northeast have apple farmers predicting an ample crop, but record highs in the Pacific northwest could hurt the harvest in Washington, the nation's top apple-growing state.

August 1st, 2009 SRINAGAR - Apple growers in Jammu and Kashmir are happy as they expect bumper apple harvest this year, especially of early season varieties of apples. A good rainfall coupled with moderate temperature and other favorable conditions in the valley is expected to result in a bumper crop.

July 21st, 2009 SHIMLA - Apple growers in Shimla are a worried lot as scant rainfall has hit apple yield. "No use of the rains as majority of our crop has ruined.

July 18th, 2009 KULLU - As heavy monsoon rains brought an end to a prolonged dry spell in Himanchal Pradesh's Kullu region, farmers and local resident all around were delighted to welcome rains. Apple farmers, in particular, were ecstatic to witness the heavy rains, as everyone was of the view that this rains would benefit their apple crops.

July 6th, 2009 SHIMLA - The prolonged dry spell and lack of adequate snowfall could bring down Himachal Pradesh's apple production by 35-40 percent, officials here say. The hill state is one of India's major apple-producing regions, with more than 90 percent of the produce going to the domestic market.

June 29th, 2009 SHIMLA - Pre-monsoon showers in Shimla and other parts of Himachal Pradesh Monday brought much relief from the scorching heat, weather officials here said. "Pre-monsoon showers Monday early morning brought much relief from the prolonged heat wave in various areas of Shimla, Kangra and Mandi districts," meteorological office director Manmohan Singh told IANS.

June 6th, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh is floating global tenders for purchase of anti-hail guns to protect the fruit crop from hailstorms that are common in the state, an official said Saturday. "We (the state government) have decided to float global tenders for the purchase of anti-hail guns to protect the fruit crop from vagaries of weather like hailstorms," state Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta told IANS.

May 23rd, 2009 KULLU - The apple crop in Kullu has been affected due to lack of adequate snowfall and rains in Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. A good crop of apples requires an average of 1200-1600 'chilling hours', adequate snowfall and rainfall, and suitable temperature at the time of flowering, which this year were unfavourable.

March 14th, 2009 SIRMOUR - Ginger farmers and traders in Himachal Pradesh have sought minimum support price fixed by the Government so as to directly export their produce. Bella valley in Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh is famous for producing varieties of quality ginger and the people mainly depend on cultivating ginger for their livelihood.

March 14th, 2009 SIRMOUR - Lack of rain and dry weather conditions have adversely affected farmers in Himachal Pradesh which has witnessed one of the driest and warmest winters in decades. Farmers are facing severe crisis as around eighty per cent of garlic, wheat and onion crops have been damaged.

February 5th, 2009 SHIMLA - Rising temperatures and very little or no snowfall since the onset of winter in Himachal Pradesh could hit the hill state's Rs.20-billion (Rs.2,000-crore) fruit industry this year. 'The prolonged dry spell in the mid-hills is a matter of concern.

January 12th, 2009 SHIMLA - Fruit growers in Himachal Pradesh are increasingly taking to commercial cultivation of the exotic kiwi fruit. Horticulture experts say it's a good step towards crop diversification and fetching them good returns too.

January 6th, 2009 SHIMLA - Farmers and horticulture experts are hoping that the light to moderate snowfall in the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh during the past few days after a long dry spell would ensure a good apple harvest this year too. 'The onset of the snowfall season in the apple-growing belt would prove to be a boon for farmers.