In response to erratic weather patterns and escalating input costs in India, apple cultivators are diversifying into stone fruits such as almonds, plums, apricots, cherries, and persimmons. This trend is particularly noticeable within India's apple belts, where traditional apple varieties are struggling due to insufficient chilling hours caused by milder winters. Deepak Singha, president of the Stone Fruit Growers Association, highlighted the necessity of transitioning to crops requiring fewer chilling hours, noting that plums, almonds, apricots, and persimmons are increasingly being cultivated alongside apples.
Lokinder Bisht, president of the Progressive Growers Association, indicated that the movement towards alternative fruit cultivation is expected to grow due to not only weather irregularities but also the soaring costs associated with apple farming post-Covid. The financial viability of apple cultivation has diminished, with net profits dropping below 50% of total sales, exacerbated by higher crop failure rates and plant mortality. In contrast, the input costs for stone fruits are considerably lower.
Source: The Tribune