Prolonged heatwave, dry spell pose risks to Kashmir’s fruit season

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: The prolonged heatwave and dry spell in the Valley has left the fruit growers anxious as the prevailing weather conditions have are posing a risk to this year’s fruit season in a sector considered as one of the primary sources of livelihood and economic strength in Kashmir.

Over the last two months, Kashmir has witnessed dry and hot weather conditions, severely affecting apple orchards and other fruit-bearing trees in the Valley.

Experts and orchardists fear not only immediate crop damage but long-term consequences that could hit both yield and quality of the fruit equally.

Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, an orchardist from South Kashmir’s Shopian district, said the absence of rainfall has placed intense stress on trees. “There has been no rainfall for the past two months. The intense sunlight without water is causing fruit fall. The fruit peel is getting damaged and the overall quality has deteriorated. If this continues, it will reduce our income drastically,” he said.

Growers like Bhat who rely solely on natural rainwater for irrigation, are the worst affected. “We don’t have irrigation facilities. Our orchards are rain-fed. This dry spell can ruin our entire season,” he added.

Horticulture experts cautioned that the prolonged dry spell can have cascading effects.

Javid Ahmad, a Horticulture Scientist, told KNO that the soaring temperatures are stressing apple trees, particularly in areas where irrigation infrastructure is absent.

“Farmers are already reporting smaller fruit size, sunburnt apples and significant fruit fall. Lack of moisture not only reduces yield but also affects the tree’s ability to bear fruit next season,” Ahmad explained.

He warned that if the situation persists, it could even lead to long-term damage to the tree structure itself. “The tree’s physiological stress increases manifold, and recovery becomes difficult. This could mean long-term income loss for thousands of growers.”

The damage isn’t just agricultural—it’s economic. Kashmir, which produces over 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, sees the figure sometimes touching 25 lakh metric tonnes. A hit to this industry will ripple through the entire economy.

Bashir Ahmad Basheer, Chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, said that poor quality and reduced size mean the fruit won’t fetch good prices in national or international markets.

“The competition is tough. We are already struggling with imported apples in Indian markets. If our fruit loses shine and size, we won’t survive. This dry spell is a major concern,” he said.

An official of the horticulture department told KNO that the sector is under threat and action is needed. “If the dry spell continues, fruit will remain undersized. There is already fruit fall reported at some locations and the quality is deteriorating,” he said.

He said that around 60 per cent of Kashmir’s orchards are rain-fed, leaving a majority of farmers highly vulnerable to changing weather patterns. “This is a clear signal that the region urgently needs proper irrigation infrastructure, like drip and sprinkler systems, especially in high-density plantation zones,” he added.

Officials said that 60% of Kashmir’s orchards are rain-fed; making them highly vulnerable to dry spells. They said that over 3.5 lakh hectares in Kashmir are under apple cultivation while 50% of Kashmir’s population is directly or indirectly dependent on horticulture, as per the 2017 J&K Economic Survey.

The apple industry alone contributes about 9.5% to the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP). The sector generates over 8.50 crore man-days of employment annually in J&K.

Experts and growers alike are urging the administration to act quickly by developing comprehensive irrigation schemes for rain-fed orchards, facilitating climate-resilient farming practices, offering insurance coverage and compensation in case of weather-related losses and strengthening weather monitoring systems and issuing timely advisories. —(KNO)