Preneeta Sharma
Crazy News India
The hailstorms in many parts of Himachal Pradesh has not only damaged apple crops in large tracks of land but also increases the worries of the apple grower for the better prices of their crops in market . Around 2,00,000 hectares of land in districts like Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, kothkhai, kotgarh, Mandi and Chamba are under apple crop.
Fruit growers say that not only apple but also apricot, almonds crop that had been affected in the state in view of hailstorm. Over 50% of apple bloom has been destroyed in the apple belts where intermittent rains and hailstorm washed the pollens of the flowers which are essential for a good crop.
The main varieties of apple that have suffered heavy losses are “Royal Delicious” and “Red Royal”. Apple arrivals usually start in July and peak around August.
The hail storm was so devastating that a large number of apple trees were destroyed while apples have got stain marks on them. Almost 50 to 70% of apple crop has got damaged,” horticulture expert said.
He said that bee activity, crucial for apple pollination, is also severely affected by this hailstorm
Meanwhile, lower hills of Himachal were lashed by thunderstorm accompanied by light rains, causing marginal drop in mercury.The storm not only flattened standing wheat crop in lower hills and damaged stone fruit crops in mid and higher hills.
However Keshav Sharma apple grower of kothkhai said “Due to the hailstorm my total apple crop has got damaged .He urged the state government to provide compensation for the damage caused by the hailstorm.
It is noted that in Himachal Pradesh, over 15 lakh households spread over five districts are engaged in growing apples that churn out an annual. In 2010, Himachal Pradesh had a bumper apple crop of more than six crore boxes, but 30 to 35 per cent of it could not reach the market due to bad roads and lack of post -harvest infrastructure. Last year, the crop was only 3crore boxes but it fetched good returns.
