Fruit production declines in Uttarakhand amid rising temperatures

Dehradun: The climate of Uttarakhand has been changing due to the cutting of forests and human interference with nature. The change has damaged the horticulture production in the state in recent years. Cool weather in the hilly regions was suitable for the growth of fruits like walnuts, apples, plums, and pears. However, in recent years, rising temperatures and climate change have reduced fruit production.

‘Climate Trends’, a research organization on environmental and climate research, discovered that the apple production in the state used to cover 25,200 hectares in 2016–17,  but gradually this area has shrunk to 11,327 hectares in 2022–23. It means a 30 percent decline, so less production is obvious. Similarly, lemon production dropped by 50%.

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Gunjan Jain, Senior Engagement Lead at Climate Trends, said that climate change is the main reason behind the low production of fruits. Several fruits like litchis, peaches, apples, and pears were extensively grown in the cold mountainous regions, but now areas have reduced and the temperature of the regions has gone up as well, resulting in low production.

Therefore, many people wind up their horticulture business due to a lack of production. The weather has started changing, which has severely affected crops, fruit production, glaciers, mountains, and even human health. The price of fruits has gone up in the market. It is essential for the government to take some concrete steps to increase the production of fruits; otherwise, the unemployment rate in the state will further go up in the coming years.