The impact of climate change on Himachal Pradesh’s apple economy, valued at over ₹ 5,500 crore, has become increasingly visible, with market arrivals down 44% from last year.
Concerned over the impact of climate change on apple production and the shifting of the apple belt to higher altitudes, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had directed a team from the horticulture university to study the situation and determine measures to safeguard apple cultivation amidst changing weather patterns. Production this year is projected to be less than half of the previous year’s output. Erratic weather patterns, a lack of sufficient cold and snowfall during winter, weather fluctuations during the flowering stage, unseasonal rains, and hailstorms have severely affected the apple crop.
The horticulture department data said 1.62 crore boxes sold in 2025 in the corresponding period. This represents a drop of approximately 44% in market arrivals compared to last year.
Chauhan said the chief minister has directed a team from the horticulture university to study the situation and determine measures to safeguard apple cultivation amidst changing weather patterns.
At the start of the season, high-quality apples fetched growers between ₹ 5,000 and ₹ 5,500 per box. Harvesting is currently underway in high-altitude areas, where good-quality apples are fetching approximately ₹ 1,800 to ₹ 2,800 per box. Average prices are hovering between ₹ 1,800 and ₹ 2,800 per box.
higher market prices are helping to offset some of that financial impact While the drop in production has caused losses for orchardists. the better prices are helping to offset some of that impact” While the low yield has certainly caused losses. Chief minister’s principal media adviser, Naresh Chauhan, stated that the impact of global warming has become increasingly evident over the last one or two decades. He pointed out that climate change has led to increased disease prevalence, reduced production, compromised crop quality, and higher costs.
Balbir Chauhan, an apple grower from Theog, said, “The harvest is significantly lower this season. In response to the changing weather patterns, growers are also shifting towards new apple varieties, he said.
