IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SHIFT OF APPLE BELT IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

摘要

The study examines the impact of climate change in recent years on apple shift to higher altitude in Himachal Pradesh based on climate information and farmers perceptions. It is evident that temperature in apple growing regions of Himachal Pradesh showed increasing trends whereas precipitation showed decreasing trends in the regions. The chill units calculated showed decreasing trends of chill units upto 2400 msl from Bajaura in Kullu at 1221 msl to Sarbo in Kinnaur at 2400msl. The Dhundi station situated at 2700 msl showed increasing trend of chill unit at the rate of 25.0 CUs per year. The increasing trends of chill unit at 2700 msl suggested that area is becoming suitable for apple cultivation in higher altitude. These findings have also been supported by the farmers' perceptions which clearly reflected that apple cultivation is expanding to higher altitude in Lahaul & Spitti. The average landuse per farm in Lahual and Spitti showed more than two percent shift towards apple cultivation but it showed reverse trend in other apple growing regions. The income of the farmers increased more than 10 percent in Lahual & Spitti whereas it showed a decrease of more than 27 percent in Kullu and Shimla districts from fruits in recent decade compared to 1995. The secondary data on area under apple cultivation also compounded statement that apple cultivation is expanding in Lahaul & Spitti in recent decade. The climate change has demonstrated its impact of decreasing productivity of apple crop in recent years.