Sajjad Hamid | Srinagar
In the heart of Kashmir’s serene valleys, where the majestic Himalayas stand sentinel, lies a tale of struggle and resilience amidst nature’s upheaval. Here, amidst the beauty of its apple orchards, families have toiled for generations, their lives intertwined with the rhythm of the seasons.
Amidst fluctuating temperatures, the apple growers fear that climate change will wipe out apple orchards of the region, which produces 80% of India’s apples.
The once-predictable temperatures have become increasingly erratic, ushering in early snowfalls and unseasonable summers. For the growers, each shift in the weather brings with it a new challenge, wreaking havoc on their cherished orchards.
Late March brought an unexpected surge in temperatures, prompting early blossoms across the valley. But now, as the mercury dips below 7 degrees, the delicate flower buds are succumbing to weakness, casting a shadow of uncertainty over this year’s harvest.
The staggering decline in apple production, nearly 50% less than usual, has dealt a devastating blow to Kashmir’s economy. With apples worth Rs 10,000 crore at stake, farming families find themselves burdened with crippling debts, their livelihoods hanging in the balance.
Nearly one million families find their livelihoods intricately tied to the annual apple harvest in Kashmir. Each year, these families contribute to the production of almost 2 million metric tonnes of apples, making Kashmir a cornerstone of India’s apple industry.
Yet, as climate change grips the region with its relentless force, the very fabric of life in Kashmir is unraveling.
As temperatures fluctuate erratically, apple growers face an uphill battle against the forces of nature. A sudden dip in temperature spells disaster for the delicate apple buds, hindering the crucial process of pollination as bees are unable to venture out.
In April, typically a month of moderate temperatures, Kashmir experienced an unprecedented rise in temperature, with daytime temperatures soaring to a staggering 20.6°C. The orchards were thrust into premature blossoming, only to be met with sharp fluctuations in temperature shortly after. The result: a devastating blow to the fruit buds and a surge in infectious diseases sweeping through the orchards.
For farmers like Shabeena Javaid, whose family has tended to the orchards of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district for generations, the impact is deeply personal. “The apple crop has become vulnerable to diseases due to changing weather patterns,” she laments, her voice tinged with frustration. “Every year, our hopes of a good crop are dashed by these nightmares.”
The farmers are complaining that rise in temperature and humidity have caused dark smudges on the surface of apples, described by experts as sooty blotch and flyspeck disease, adversely affecting the quality of the crop.
“We’ve seen our yields dwindle, our hopes dashed by forces beyond our control,” laments Bilal Ahmad Rather, a once-prosperous apple grower in northern Kashmir’s Baramulla district. “It’s not just about the apples; it’s about our way of life, our future.”
The northern region of Kashmir is renowned as the apple bowl, boasting the highest apple production quantity in the area.
Over the years, apple orchards have flourished across its karewas or elevated table-land, with substantial portions of paddy land converted into lucrative apple orchards due to their promise of higher profits.
This prosperity has set Kashmir apart from other regions in South Asia, evident in the absence of homelessness and starvation-related fatalities, underscoring a distinct affluence in the region.
However, in 1999, the apple growers witnessed the first signs of climate change when rain deficit and heatwave destroyed apple orchards across Kashmir.
Nasir Masoodi, a professor at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, vividly remembers the summer of 2002, when his father wrote him a letter, saying he should not worry about the payment of the tuition fee because the weather conditions have improved and the drought situation was going to end.
Masoodi was then preparing for the Common Entrance Test for admission to the medical schools in the Indian administration Kashmir.
“I still remember he talked about climate change and advised me to concentrate on my studies as weather conditions had improved to end the drought season,” said Masoodi, whose apple business was running in millions of rupees but ended in loss-making trade.
Masoodi and his brother took up government jobs but own nearly 40 acres of apple orchards which they sell to traders for mere Rs 500000 annually.
He says rising temperature coupled with dry weather conditions have an adverse effect on apple production.
According to data from the meteorological department, there has been a 70-80 per cent deficiency of normal precipitation in Kashmir this year.
“Below 30 degree Celsius temperatures are beneficial if there was adequate irrigation in orchards which are located mostly at elevated table-land. So, the dry conditions are causing an influx of pests leading to many diseases eventually damaging the trees and hitting the produce,” Masoodi said.
Masoodi said the increased temperature has resulted in a widespread attack of aphids, causing irreversible damage to the apple trees. “In spite of multiple sprays of insecticides, these aphids have gone out of control,” he said.
Experts say the Kashmir apple is facing a danger of becoming a rarity in India due to recurring production losses, forcing the farmers to a gradual transition to other crops.
In hundreds of apple orchards across Kashmir, the farmers have sown wheat – a major attraction to rodents which damage the roots of apple trees.
“The farmers are shifting to alternative crops and are cultivating wheat, mustard, maize and legumes in apple orchards. It would aggravate the economic woes of the farmers and would potentially leave people of Kashmir hungry,” Masoodi said.
As Kashmir’s apple industry grapples with the existential threat posed by climate change, experts warn of dire consequences if urgent action is not taken. Dr. Ashiq Hussain, a Fruit Scientist at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, paints a bleak picture of what lies ahead if nothing is done.
“The changing climate has unleashed multiple challenges, from premature blossoms to the spread of infectious diseases,” explains Dr. Hussain, his concern palpable. “If we do not act swiftly to mitigate these impacts, Kashmir’s apple orchards could become a relic of the past.”
Yet amidst the uncertainty, there remains a flicker of hope. For families like Javaid’s and Rather’s, resilience is not just a choice; it’s a way of life. As they stand shoulder to shoulder, facing the challenges of an uncertain future, they draw strength from their deep-rooted connection to the land.
“We cannot afford to lose hope,” asserts Javaid, her gaze unwavering. “Our ancestors have weathered storms far worse than this, and we owe it to them to fight for our orchards, our livelihoods, and our future.”
As Kashmir’s apple growers brace themselves for the uncertainties that lie ahead, one thing is abundantly clear: the battle against climate change is not just about preserving orchards; it’s about safeguarding the lives and legacies of millions of families who call this land home.
