Himachal Pradesh Records Higher Apple Production in 2025, But Stability Concerns Loom
Himachal Pradesh has reported a significant increase in apple output for the financial year 2025-26, according to the latest Economic Survey report. The state produced 6.47 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of apples, marking a 28.6% rise from the previous year's output of approximately 5.03 LMT. This follows a 27.9% increase from the 2023-24 production of around 5.06 LMT.
Growing Cultivation Area Versus Fluctuating Production
Despite this positive trend, a critical issue has emerged: the area under apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh continues to expand steadily, but production levels have not kept pace, raising alarms about the stability of the apple economy. The cultivation area grew by 0.08% from 1,16,240 hectares in 2023-24 to 1,16,338 hectares in 2024-25. Over a longer period, from 2010-11 to 2025-26, the area increased by 14.6%, from 1,01,585 hectares to 1,16,338 hectares.
The survey report notes that between 2007-08 and 2024-25, the cultivation area expanded by 21.4%. However, apple production has been highly inconsistent over the past decade, failing to match this growth. For instance, after hitting a low of 2.75 LMT in 2011-12, production surged to a peak of 7.7 LMT in 2015-16, only to drop sharply to 3.6 LMT in 2018-19. It rebounded to 7.1 LMT in 2019-20 but has not surpassed this figure in the subsequent six years.
Weather Changes Blamed for Production Volatility
Horticulture experts attribute these fluctuations primarily to changing weather conditions in the state. Luddar Thakur, a horticulture expert running an apple nursery near Bhuntar in Kullu, explained that rising average temperatures and reduced snowfall are key factors. "The apple crop is highly sensitive to weather changes and requires ideal conditions. If apples are not even getting adequate chilling hours, then the yield is bound to be affected," he said.
Thakur added that warming weather is causing apple belts in districts like Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla to shift to higher altitudes. To address the cultivation-production mismatch, he recommends promoting apple varieties such as Gala, which can thrive in lower altitudes and warmer climates.
Economic Impact and Farmer Concerns
Apple is the most crucial cash crop in Himachal Pradesh, accounting for 49% of the total area under fruit crops and 77.5% of total fruit production. Approximately 2.5 lakh families in the state depend directly or indirectly on apple farming, making it a vital sector for the local economy. Himachal Pradesh is the second-largest apple producer in India, after Kashmir.
Sohan Lal Verma, an apple grower from Raison village in Kullu district, highlighted the financial risks posed by inconsistent weather. "Unpredictable and inconsistent weather has made apple farming a highly unreliable source of income. Moreover, the cost of production has increased several times in the last decade, gradually turning apple farming into a non-viable source of income, especially for small farmers," he stated.
Government Attention and Future Outlook
The Economic Survey report for 2025-26 explicitly raises concerns about the mismatch between cultivation area and production, noting that "The fluctuations in apple production during the last few years have attracted the attention of the govt." This indicates potential policy interventions to stabilize the apple economy.
As Himachal Pradesh grapples with these challenges, the need for adaptive agricultural strategies and climate-resilient apple varieties becomes increasingly urgent to ensure sustainable growth and support for the farming community.
