By: Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jul 04: The prolonged heatwave and dry spell in the Valley has left the fruit growers anxious as the prevailing weather conditions have taken toll on the region’s horticulture sector, considered as one of the primary sources of livelihood and economic strength in Kashmir.
Over the last two months, Kashmir has witnessed dry and hot weather conditions, severely affecting apple orchards and other fruit-bearing trees in the Valley.
The experts and orchardists fear not only immediate crop damage but long-term consequences that could hit both yield and quality of the fruit equally.
Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, an orchardist from South Kashmir’s Shopian district, said the absence of rainfall has placed intense stress on trees. “There has been no rainfall for the past two months. The intense sunlight without water is causing fruit fall. The fruit peel is getting damaged and the overall quality has deteriorated. If this continues, it will reduce our income drastically,” he said.
Growers like Bhat who rely solely on natural rainwater for irrigation, are the worst affected. “We don’t have irrigation facilities. Our orchards are rain-fed. This dry spell can ruin our entire season,” he added.
Horticulture experts cautioned that the prolonged dry spell can have cascading effects.
Javid Ahmad, a Horticulture Scientist said that the soaring temperatures are stressing apple trees, particularly in areas where irrigation infrastructure is absent.
“Farmers are already reporting smaller fruit size, sunburnt apples and significant fruit fall. Lack of moisture not only reduces yield but also affects the tree’s ability to bear fruit next season,” Ahmad explained.
He warned that if the situation persists, it could even lead to long-term damage to the tree structure itself. “The tree’s physiological stress increases manifold, and recovery becomes difficult. This could mean long-term income loss for thousands of growers.”
The damage isn’t just agricultural—it’s economic. Kashmir, which produces over 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, sees the figure sometimes touching 25 lakh metric tonnes. A hit to this industry will ripple through the entire economy.
Bashir Ahmad Basheer, Chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, said that poor quality and reduced size mean the fruit won’t fetch good prices in national or international markets.
“The competition is tough. We are already struggling with imported apples in Indian markets. If our fruit loses shine and size, we won’t survive. This dry spell is a major concern,” he said.
An official of the horticulture department said that the sector is under threat and action is needed. “If the dry spell continues, fruit will remain undersized. There is already fruit fall reported at some locations and the quality is deteriorating,” he said.
He said that around 60 per cent of Kashmir’s orchards are rain-fed, leaving a majority of farmers highly vulnerable to changing weather patterns. “This is a clear signal that the region urgently needs proper irrigation infrastructure, like drip and sprinkler systems, especially in high-density plantation zones,” he added.
Officials said that 60% of Kashmir’s orchards are rain-fed; making them highly vulnerable to dry spells. They said that over 3.5 lakh hectares in Kashmir are under apple cultivation while 50% of Kashmir’s population is directly or indirectly dependent on horticulture, as per the 2017 J&K Economic Survey.
The apple industry alone contributes about 9.5% to the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP). The sector generates over 8.50 crore man-days of employment annually in J&K.
Experts and growers alike are urging the administration to act quickly by developing comprehensive irrigation schemes for rain-fed orchards, facilitating climate-resilient farming practices, offering insurance coverage and compensation in case of weather-related losses and strengthening weather monitoring systems and issuing timely advisories. (KNO)
Rainfall declining 5 mm annually!!
Peerzada Ummer
Srinagar, Jul 04: Annual maximum and minimum temperatures in Kashmir Valley have steadily increased at rates of approximately 0.02°C per year over the past few years, putting the farmers and those associated with agriculture in the region in dire straits with this warming trend observed across all seasons but particularly strong during winter and spring.
The plains and mountainous regions of Kashmir are warming faster than foothills and Karewa areas, with Srinagar (a floodplain) showing the highest rate of increase, partly due to urban heat island effects.
Data indicate a notable temperature jump around 1996-1997, with recent decades being warmer than the earlier years analyzed.
This rise in temperature is linked to worrying changes in agricultural patterns, including early flowering of crops like apples and oilseeds, which reduces yields and affects crop quality.
While temperatures rise, the Kashmir Valley is experiencing a sharp decline in precipitation. The annual rainfall has decreased by about 5 mm per year, with the most significant drops occurring in mountainous and foothill regions—areas critical for glacier recharge and water supply. Seasonal rainfall has fallen markedly in spring and winter, seasons vital for maintaining glaciers and groundwater.
This reduction in rainfall threatens the perennial flow of major rivers such as the Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus, which depend on glacier melt and spring precipitation.
Farmers report that diminished snowfall and erratic rains have led to water shortages for irrigation, particularly impacting the traditional paddy (rice) cultivation during the summer Kharif season.
Furthermore, the combined scientific data and farmer insights have highlighted the urgent need for adaptive strategies in Kashmir Valley agriculture. Rising temperatures and declining rainfall disrupt the growth cycles of key crops such as apples, saffron, walnuts, barley, and pulses.
The study has warned that without immediate adaptation measures, including water resource management and crop diversification, the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and food security in the Kashmir Valley could be severely compromised. (KNO)
