Apple crop in Kashmir

By Sarbjit Singh Reen

Apple crop in Kashmir is still safe as global warming effects r coming late here. The average height of Kashmir valley 1850 meters, and location are the main plus points. Had it been closer to equator, may be having same height, then the situation would have been more alarming. We are very lucky in that way almighty has provided very good location and height to paradise on earth. Is there something to worry? Let’s check it out.

Himachal Pardesh

According to G C Kuniyal, senior scientist at the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Himachal unit at Mohal, "In Kullu valley alone, it's become warmer on an average of 0.9 degree celsius from 1965 to 1998. In 1965, the apple belt was found at a height of 1000m above sea level. Now, it's at 2000m above sea level." Apple, which was grown at Bajaura (1000m) area some years back, can now be found only in Katrain (2000m) near Manali." Warmer climate has made it harder to get a decent crop in the lower and middle elevation belt and apple orchards have shifted to higher altitudes to find a cooler place to grow. Bajoura, located in the lower part of the Kullu valley, produced good quality apples about a few decades ago. Today, there is a general consensus that the lower limit of apples has now reached Raison about 30 kilometers up the valley. Similarly in the Kotgarh region, villages in the middle elevation belt produced some of the finest apples during the 1970s and early 1980s. Today farmers here are struggling to replace their orchards. A similar trend is noticed elsewhere in the state.

Japan

Most of apple trees have been cultivated in the northern part of temperate zone in Japan, since they are suitable for planting in cold climates. The crops produced in a cold area may be greatly influenced by warming. This study is undertaken to assess the impact of global warming on the production of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) in Japan. The temperature ranges assumed to be appropriate for the cultivation of apple are 6-14°C on annual mean temperature and 13-21°C on mean temperature from April to October, respectively. It was predicted that the favorable regions to cultivate apples will gradually move northward. All the plains of southern Tohoku in 2040's and central Tohoku 2236 meters above sea level in 2060's will be unfavorable for apple cultivation, while most of regions in Hokkaido 1600 meters above sea level will be suitable by 2060's. Many parts of the current apple producing districts in Japan will be possibly unfavorable by 2060's. Therefore, global warming will greatly affect the cultivation environment of apples in Japan by the middle of the 21st century.

Pennsylvania

Adams county is the heart of apple growing. Macintosh, Granny Smith, and other popular varieties flourish here. Apples are among several types of fruit which require a certain number of hours of winter chill to properly set fruit. The report notes that between 800 to 1,200 chilling hours are necessary for most types grown in the state. If the higher-emissions scenario continues, only about 50-60% of the winters in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania, including Adams County, would have 1,000 chilling hours by mid-century. By late century, only the northern-most counties would have enough cold hours to produce apples.

From here we can predict that apple belts will shift if we don’t address this problem of global warming very seriously. we should also make global warming impact assessment teams in Kashmir to access the trend of rising temperatures so that future strategies should be worked out and new cultivars( low chilling) if to be planted can be properly recognized and trails can be made well in time. Two year from Dec3 to Dec 6 a seminar regarding the introduction of new low chilling varieties was conducted in Himachal and foreign delegates from Newzeland and other countries participated in that. In Kashmir as well things r changing, rice belts of Kashmir r shifting to apple cultivation. This is the first symptoms secondly canker attack apple trees has increased many folds , this is an another serious symptoms.