Uttarakhand has experienced a significant reduction in horticulture production over the past six years, with a 54% decrease in the cultivation area till 2023. Research indicates this downturn is partially due to global warming effects.
The area dedicated to horticulture has diminished to 81,692.58 hectares in 2022-23 from 177,323.5 hectares in 2016-17, as reported by the Department of Horticulture, Government of Uttarakhand. Concurrently, fruit yields have also declined by 44%, dropping from 662,847 tons in 2016-17 to 369,447 tons in 2022-23, according to Climate Trends, an environmental research organization.
This organization highlights that temperature fluctuations have a direct impact on fruit production, affecting growth, development, and productivity. Challenges such as heat stress, reduced water availability, and altered precipitation patterns have been identified as contributing factors, alongside changes in pest and disease prevalence. Dr. Subash Nataraja from ICAR-IARI has expressed concern over the temperature variability and its potential impact on agricultural practices. The decline has been most pronounced in temperate fruits like pear, apricot, plum, and walnut, while apples and lemons have faced moderate reductions. The area under apple cultivation has halved, alongside a 30% yield reduction, whereas lemon yields have decreased by 58%. Tropical fruits, however, have been less impacted by these changes.
Source: aninews.in