APPLE PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY IN HIMACHAL PRADESH: A STUDY OF SHIMLA AND KINNOUR DISTRICTS

Abstract

The present study tries to analysis the apple production and productivity in Himachal Pradesh last two decades. Apple covers 49 percent of the total area under fruits and constitutes nearly 85 percent of total production of fruits. Apple production was first started in Kotgarh area of district Shimla. This area formed the traditional node of its diffusion in the state. The fruit consolidated its position in this area and spread to surrounding areas where secondary nodes got established later. Presently apple is an outstanding cash crop of Himachal Pradesh with excellent quality apple being cultivated in the state. The state is often designated as “Apple State” which seems an appropriate epithet. Higher concentration of this commercial crop is associated with the cool temperate climate and considerable high altitudinal location of central parts of the state falling over Shimla, and Kinnour districts. The development of infrastructural facilities such as transport, marketing in addition to the government and political support to the growers have significantly contributed to maintain the supremacy of apple in the apple-growing belt of Himachal Pradesh.Besides these,number of small-scale industries associated directly or indirectly with orchard industry have come up and a boost to state’s economy.