CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING ADVERSE AGAINST THE APPLE GROWERS, AS THE FRUITS NO LONGER GETS ADEQUATE CHILLING HOURS, THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR A GOOD PRODUCE

At present it is revealed that, the timing of snowfall has shifted significantly, as earlier, snow fall used to begin in November and continue till March however now snow often arrives only after the January and sometimes even starches into April. This shift is unnatural and may cause a host of ecological problems. It is further revealed that because of said natural shift, among the worst affected is apple farming and the backbone of the Hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh rural economy, as such the Apple trees require 1200 to 1800 chilling hours, when temperatures remain below seven degrees Celsius-- to flower and bear fruit properly. With winters growing shorter and warmer, those chilling hours disappeared. Keeping in view the above climatic requirements for the Apple growers, Apple belts in the state have already shifted upwards areas approaching above 1000 feet and most new orchards are now a days, above 6000 feet , list by way and virtue of which farmers are trying to create artificial cold, but this is risky as using water sprinklers and wires at an Apple orchard, amid a rise in winter temperatures and delayed snow fall, the fruits no longer gets adequate, chilling hours and necessary for a good produce, and seems that the snow cover has been shrinking, even at the higher levels of snowfall areas covered and it is affecting adverse against the Apple Farming because of the reduced forest cover and the climate change:-- Er Fateh chand Guleria, Director RTI welfare Association registered number HPCD, 3552 , Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh phone number 9459334377