According to data from the Department of Horticulture, Government of Uttarakhand, the total area under fruit cultivation plummeted from 177,323.5 hectares in 2016-2017 to 81,692.58 hectares in 2022-2023, marking a staggering 54% decline. Similarly, the total fruit yield witnessed a sharp drop from 662,847.11 metric tonnes to 369,447.3 metric tonnes during the same period, representing a nearly 44% decrease.  

The decline in fruit production is particularly pronounced in temperate fruits such as pear, apricot, plum, and walnut, traditionally grown in the higher altitudes of the Himalayas. Factors contributing to this decline include changing temperature patterns, warming climate, and reduced snowfall, which are adversely affecting fruit growth, development, and overall productivity.  

The warming climate, characterized by relatively warmer winter temperatures and decreased snowfall, is disrupting the chilling requirement of winter fruits, essential for bud formation and flowering. Consequently, fruits like apples, plums, peaches, apricots, pears, and walnuts are experiencing reduced yields due to abnormal patterns of bud-break and flowering.

Farmers and orchard owners, expresses concern over the unprecedented lack of snowfall in recent years, leading to poor farm produce and water scarcity issues, with temperatures soaring above 31 degrees Celsius during May.  They are mourning on the stark contrast in fruit yields, with apple production expected to plummet from 1500 boxes per day during peak season to less than 350 boxes per day this year.

In addition to climate-related challenges, Uttarakhand has been grappling with recurring disasters such as extreme rainfall events, flooding, hailstorms, and landslides, further exacerbating agricultural losses and prompting widespread out-migration from the hills to the plains.

To address these challenges, experts emphasize the need for climate-resilient practices and policies tailored to Uttarakhand’s unique climatic conditions. They underscore the importance of long-term research to understand weather variability and its impact on crop yields, along with the development of location-specific climate-resilient varieties and management practices.

Moreover, people also advocates for climate financing to support farmers in adapting to adverse weather conditions, along with the establishment of village-level agro met advisory services to disseminate timely information to stakeholders.