Snow will boost apple harvest: Orchardists

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, January 20

Snowfall in December and this month would act as a boon for apple, growers said.

Horticulturists of the valley said the minimum chilling period required for different varieties of apple plants was 800 hours-1,600 hours.

They added that the snowfall during the second week of December and this month would help in achieve average chilling hours. Snow is considered as “white manure” for apple orchards and this year, with good amount of snowfall, the orchardists were hopeful of attaining the required chilling period, which is beneficial to the crop during blooming and fruition.

Mahender Upadhyaya, president, Kullu Fruit Growers Association, said frequent spells of snow enabled apple trees to get the required chilling period. He said apple is sensitive to its growing conditions and snowfall and low temperatures were key factors for a good harvest. So this recent snowfall would boost the production and growth of apple this year, he added.

Apple is the only source of income for 25 per cent of farmers of this district. For other 50 per cent of the farmers, it contributes to 70 per cent of their income. For the remaining 25 per cent, it amounts to about 30 per cent of their income.

Ram Singh, a local apple grower, said a temperature below 7°Celsius was required for a minimum of 1,000 to 1,600 hours during the winter season and the onset of heavy snow last month had assured the minimum required hours during the dormancy period.

Another farmer Rajesh Sharma said he expected to harvest a bumper crop if the weather conditions continued to remain as they were. Ajay, an orchardist in the lower valley, was hopeful that the required moisture for apple trees would be available after the recent spells of snow.