Fruit production is increasing in Himachal Pradesh, apple crop is also being prepared in hot areas

Palampur: The area under fruit production is increasing in the state. In a decade, the area under fruit production in the state has increased by about 30 thousand hectares. Apple is at the forefront in terms of area grown and production. The area for growing fruits in the state continued to expand and now it has reached 235,785 hectares. Apple, mango, orange, pear, plum, peach, galgal and apricot are the major horticulture crops. The year 2010-11 can be considered golden from the point of view of fruit production, when with a new record the figure of fruit production crossed one million metric tonnes. In 2010-11, fruits were planted in an area of 211295 hectares in the state and the total production of fruits was 1027821 metric tonnes with a bumper crop of 892112 metric tonnes of apples. In 2007-08, 200502 metric tonnes of area was under fruit production in the state. There came a time in this sector when the figure of production could not even touch four lakh metric tonnes. In 2006-07, 369103 metric tonnes of fruits, 382237 in 2009-10 and 372823 metric tonnes in 2011-12 could be produced in the state. The total fruit production in 2021-22 was 7.54 lakh tonnes, while the production in 2022-23 (up to December) stood at 7.93 lakh tonnes. The apple which was grown only in the higher regions is now being grown in the plains and hot regions as well. – hdm

dried fruits and nuts

In addition to apples, the area under temperate fruits has increased from 900 hectares in 1960-61 to 27911 hectares in 2021-2022. The area under dry fruits and nuts has increased from 231 hectares in 1960-61 to 9786 hectares in 2022-22 and the area under citrus and sub-tropical fruits has increased from 1225 hectares and 623 hectares in 1960-61 to 25096 hectares and 56976 hectares in 2021-22 respectively. hectare is done.

Most important role of apple in fruit production in Himachal Pradesh

Apple occupies a major place in India, under which about 48.8 percent of the total area under fruits and production is about 81 percent of the total fruit production. In the year 1950-51, the area under apples was 400 hectares, which increased to 3025 hectares in 1960-61 and to 115016 hectares in the year 2021-22. The area under apple production has increased by 21.4 per cent during the period from 2007-08 to 2021-22.