White manure boosts hopes of apple growers

Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh are jubilant following abundant snowfall that has come very early this year.

Kharapathar /Shimla, Dec 15 : Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh are jubilant following abundant snowfall that has come very early this year.

The early snowfall is considered a good augury for apple growers residing in the upper reaches of Shimla, as it will benefit the horticulture sector.

Growers in Kharapathar, a tiny village covered with thick forests and apple orchards, say the snowfall has cooled the region giving the crop the minimum required chilling hours, which prevents shedding of leaves and also kills pests.

"In the past two-three years we had not received good snowfall during December but this year because of the excellent snowfall we expect a good produce," said Lahori Singh, an apple grower.

The farmers consider snow during this year as white manure for their crops

The snow also helps the manure-compost to set well.

Gurdeev Singh, Director of the Department of Horticulture said the snow is beneficial for the apple trees.

"It helps moisturise the orchard and when after this we apply fertilizers, it greatly helps the apple trees. The trees are able to absorb the nutrient deposit so there will be good flowering and if there is good flowering there will be good production," he added.

Known, as the "Apple Bowl of India", Himachal Pradesh is the largest producer of apples in the country.

Spread across nine districts of the state and grown on an area of 180,000 hectares of land, the industry provides employment to over thousands of people.

The state produces an annual average of 5.50 metric tonnes of apples.

The main varieties of commercially grown apples are Royal Delicious, Rich-A-Red, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious.

Last year, the State had produced 540,000 tonnes of apple.

Shimla and Kullu Districts contribute 70 percent to the State's total production.

ANI