Dehradun, July 16
Contrary to Uttarakhand’s efforts to boost apple production, lack of rainfall and hailstorms during the time of flowering has reduced the production levels by 50 per cent this season.

Apple in Uttarakhand is grown in the upper reaches of hill districts in a total of 31,662 hectares: Nainital 7,802 hectares, Uttarkashi 7,254 hectares, Chamoli 3,550 hectares, Tehri 3,129 hectares, Almora 1,565 hectares, Pithoragarh 1,545 hectares, Dehradun 4,596 hectares, Champawat 487 hectares, Rudraprayag 334 hectares and Bageshwar 85 hectares.The hortriculture department has been working hard to create aa presence in the country’s apple market. Apple from the Kashmir valley and Himachal Pradesh, as of now, is in much higher demand due to its quality and quantity.

While the department has tried to introduce better quality apple and help farmers in enhancing production levels, adverse weather conditions have hit the apple crop in Uttarakhand.

“The crop has been widely affected by the lack of rainfall. While horticulture officials admit that 50 per cent of the crop has been lost, farmers estimate this loss to be as high as 75 per cent.

“Fifty per cent of the crop has been lost mainly due to lack of rains,” says Dr BP Nautiyal. joint director of horticulture.

“Last year, as many as 12 trucks of apples left Ramagarh (in Nanital) everday, but due to fall in production, only one or two vehicles, that too small ones, are ferrying apples this season,” her said. The fall in production is believed to have hurt the economy of the state. Farmers are a distressed lot.

“Today, gowdowns are almost empty. The losses are huge and will affect apple growers in a big way,” says CS Rawat, an apple grower in Sakhari. He apprehends the losses may discourage the farmers from opting for the crop next year.

“The apple crop has been destroyed and it will be very difficult for the farmers to make up for the losses,” says Rajiv Panwar of Uttarkashi.

The farmers blame the government for not doing enough towards fruit cultivation in the state. “Those farmers who had registered their crop under the Seb Bima Yojana will certainly get monetary compensation and the verification process is already in progress,” says Dr Amar Singh, Dehradun district horticulture officer.

The Uttarakhand government had some time back approached the Centre for assistance to farmers, including apple growers. Agriculture minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had expressed concern over the huge losses suffered due to lack of rains.

The crops hit are wheat, potato, rice, pea, cauliflower, plum, apple, apricot and lentils.The horticulture department had some time back introduced American hybrid varieties. These imported varieties of apple are not only rich in taste but are also virus and disease-resistant. Procured from the USA by the horticulture directorate, some of the varieties include the Star King and Top Red grown at a height of 6,500 ft and Red Chief, Organ Spur, Scarlet Gala, Red Fuji and Vale Spur suitable for cultivation at a height of 5,500-6,000 ft.

These varieties bear fruit early, their productivity is six to seven times more and cost less than apples imported from other countries. “The need of the hour is to boost apple production which is possible with the new varieties that bear fruit in three years,” says Dr Amar Singh.

Haridwar, July 16
Scorching heat this summer and delayed monsoons has not only affected human beings but animals too. With most water resources having dried up in forest area and the vicinity of Rajaji National Park, animals, especially elephants, have been moving towards human settlement areas where water source is available.

One such area is East Ganga canal in Shyampur forest under Haridwar forest division. Elephants are frequently seen coming to the canal to quench their thirst and at times herds of elephants are seen drinking and taking bath in the canal water.

Monsoon rains have been light and water resources inside the forest area, particularly Rajaji, a major abode of elephants, have yet to be filled up. So, the jumbos are resorting to canal water. If one goes through the canal area, one can sight jumbos stepping down the stairs, built for human access to reach the water level, 
with ease.

The sight is spectacular. The way in which the elephants descend step by step towards the water level and then retract with dexterity despite their size reveals another aspect of the species.

It has been observed by forest officials that adult bull elephants utilise this route to enter the Anjani forest, which is on the periphery of the Ganges. Besides, the elephants also use the Gaziwali, Shyampur and Pili bridges situated over the East Ganga Canal foroutside movement and to feed on crops in nearby villages.

People and elephant lovers have been treading towards the spot to have a look at the elephants drinking water and splashing water over their bodies. Experts point out that this is indicative of the shrinking water resources, global warming and encroached water resources in the jungle by humans which compel the animals to move outside the forest area in search of water. “Any increase in anthropogenic activities in park forest area leads to movement of elephants to open and new spaces. The migration of elephants from Rajaji has just begun.

The Ganga canal falling in the traditional elephant corridor, elephants are seen more in the East Canal area. but this will stop as soon as the monsoon arrives fully” said wildlife expert Dr Ritesh Joshi. Apart from the change in climate and anthropogenic activities in forest areas, elephants are seen in the Ganga canal as it provides them their favourtie food and fodder.

On both sides of the canal is the bamboos crop , a favourite among jumbos. Also, the area has dense kapasi (helictres), khari (acacia) and sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo, acacia catechu) trees which are much liked by elephants.

Hence, they are able to get both water and food at one place.