Conducive weather raises hopes of good fruit yield this season

Following two successive lean seasons, apple and stone fruit growers in the upper Shimla area are hoping for a better yield this year. While the fruit setting is over in lower elevations, the mid and higher elevations are going through the flowering stage.

“The weather has been quite conducive so far for fruit growers. The lower elevations have seen good fruit setting this time. The mid and higher elevations are witnessing the bloom phase and, hopefully, the fruit will be set at these elevations in the next seven to 10 days,” said Usha Sharma, Senior Scientist, KVK, Shimla. Due to inclement weather in the two previous years, the fruit yield was less than normal. In 2023, excessive rains led to severe fungal infections, affecting quality as well as quantity of the fruit. Last year, the drought-like condition in summers again affected the yield. Overall, just round two crore apple boxes each were produced in both these years.

“This time, the fruit setting in both apple and stone fruit has been quite good. So much so that we have been forced to do some thinning of fruit buds,” said Kapoor Jistu, a fruit grower from Bharasa village in the lower elevations of the Kotgarh area in Shimla district. Jistu said that stone fruit, in particular, was hit quite hard in the previous year due to inclement weather, but this time, the chances of good crop are quite bright. “Apart from apple, setting in stone fruits like plum, cherry and almond is quite good. Even pears are developing nicely,” he said.

Deepak Singha, a progressive grower, also feels the weather has been good up to the flowering and fruit-setting stage. “How the fruit develops from here depends on rain now. Rain is now required after regular intervals to ensure good development of the fruit,” said Singha.

Meanwhile, Usha Sharma advises growers to watch out for fungal diseases like alterneria and powdery mildew in apple after the fruit sets. “Growers should start fungicide spray after the fruit sets to keep these diseases in check,” she said.

Himachal Tribune