Poisoning the orchard: A bitter bite in Himachal’s apple boom
Apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh traces its roots back to the 1870s when Captain RC Lee, a British officer, planted the first Pippin variety in the Kullu valley. However, it was American missionary Samuel Evans Stokes who truly revolutionised the apple economy. In 1916, he introduced the Royal Delicious and Golden Delicious varieties in the Thanadhar region of Shimla district. By 1926, Stokes had harvested and sold apples from his orchards, triggering a major shift in the region from traditional farming to commercial apple cultivation.
By 1950, only about 400 hectares of land in Himachal were under apple cultivation. Today, the figure has soared to over 1,15,000 hectares, making apples the backbone of the state’s horticulture sector, accounting for nearly 80% of its total horticultural produce. While this boom brought economic prosperity, apple cultivation in the state is now under serious threat due to a host of modern-day challenges.
Climate change, erratic weather, aging orchards, poor farming practices and increasing pest and disease attacks have started to take a toll. Pre-harvest losses due to insect pests and plant diseases are already estimated at over 35%, and in extreme cases, these can go up to 70%. Despite being one of the least pesticide-consuming states, Himachal still faces the alarming consequences of indiscriminate pesticide use.
Pesticides — whether synthetic or natural — include insecticides, acaricides, fungicides, herbicides and others used to manage pests and increase agricultural yield. However, their overuse is proving counterproductive. The heavy use of these chemicals leads to environmental degradation, soil and water contamination and long-term health hazards for humans due to toxic residues entering the food chain. The residues can disrupt hormonal and reproductive systems and bioaccumulate in living organisms.
One of the most dangerous trends in current apple farming is the spraying of pesticides without proper pest monitoring. Even a minor pest presence often triggers chemical spraying across entire orchards. This wipes out not only the pests but also their natural predators, upsetting the ecological balance.
Another alarming practice is the unscientific mixing of multiple chemical products — including insecticides, fungicides, acaricides, nutrients and even hormones — often without checking their compatibility. Such mixtures can lead to serious problems like leaf yellowing, russeting (rough patches on apple skin), phytotoxicity and premature fruit drop. The appearance of Alternaria leaf blight and other physiological disorders in young apple trees has increasingly been linked to these improper chemical mixes.
Pesticides can leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater through surface runoff, directly affecting soil organisms. This leads to nutrient imbalances and damages the soil’s biological life, which in turn affects the entire food web. The University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, recommends a structured spray schedule based on soil conditions, nutrient status and pest monitoring — a practice that needs urgent implementation.
To restore the health of apple orchards and ensure long-term sustainability, farmers must adopt scientific and environmentally friendly approaches. Fertiliser and nutrient application should be based on regular soil and leaf testing. Avoiding pesticide-nutrient and hormone mixes, and ensuring separate application times for each, will protect both plant health and yield quality.
Additionally, managing soil pH is critical. Low pH can cause toxic buildup of certain nutrients like aluminum and manganese, while high pH can render other essential nutrients unavailable to the plant. Balancing pH and ensuring good soil health are vital steps in promoting healthy orchard growth and quality fruit production.
Farmers need to be made aware of these best practices through training and education. Promoting Integrated Pest Management (IPM), correct timing of sprays, cultural operations and proper post-harvest handling are essential to produce apples that meet global safety and quality standards. Only then can Himachal’s apple legacy thrive in harmony with nature and the demands of modern agriculture.
— The author is a former professor of University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni.
Himachal Tribune