Abnormal temperatures, excess rain hit stone fruit crop in Solan

With a whopping 119 per cent higher rainfall witnessed against the normal 67.7 mm in May, coupled with abnormal minimum and maximum temperatures in the Solan area, the production of stone fruit has been adversely hit.

“May is marked by warmer temperatures and lesser rainfall required for stone fruit like plum, apricot and peach, which attain maturity. However, less than normal minimum and maximum temperatures and an exceptionally high rainfall have adversely hit the fruit crop, which is grown in Solan and Sirmaur as a key cash crop,” says Satish Bhardwaj, head of Department of Environmental Sciences, YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni.

There was similar fluctuations in relative humidity, which usually ranges between 48 per cent and 50 per cent during May, but was recorded as high as 74 per cent to 75 per cent, creating conducive conditions for the spread of disease in crops. It also affected quality and yield of crops while triggering the use of pesticides for disease control.

According to the weather data provided by the university scientists, the maximum temperature in May remained 2°C less than the normal of 31.1°C even the minimum temperature registered a similar fluctuation and was 0.2° C below normal, says Bhardwaj.

An analysis of the rainfall trend for May since 2010 reveals that barring 2021 and 2023, the month has received the highest rainfall of 148.8 mm this year. This level was breached in 2021 when 148.9 mm of rain was recorded and in 2023, when 152.3 mm rainfall had pounded the area, leading to colossal loss while barely 23.8 mm of rain was received in 2024.

Bhardwaj says that it is a reflection of climate change as 119 per cent higher rainfall in May is unprecedented. He has advised farmers to adopt real-time weather alerts to enable them to take timely protective measures for their crops.

Incessant rain accompanied by gusty winds has substantially damaged the standing crop in the region. Though markets are flooded with plums and apricots this time of the year, very little quality fruit is seen as a significant part of the crop has been lost in the inclement weather.