Abstract
Apple farming is an important activity and profession of farmer communities in the Himalayan states of India. At present, the traditional apple farming is under stress due to changes in climate. The present study was undertaken in an Indian Himalayan state, Himachal Pradesh, with the major aim of studying perceptions of farmers on the effects of climate change on apple farming along the altitudinal gradient. Through questionnaire survey, the perceptions of farmers were recorded at low hills (<2500 m), mid-hills (2500–3000 m), and upper hills (>3000 m). At all elevation range the majority of farmers reported that there was increase in atmospheric temperature, and hence at low hills 72% farmers believed that this increase in temperature was responsible for decline in fruit size and so that the quality. Thirty five percent farmers at high hills and 30% at mid hills perceived frost as a major cause for damaging apple farming whereas at low hills 24% farmers perceived hailstorm as the major deterrent for apple farming. The majority of farmers, along the altitude (92% at high hills, 79% at mid hills and 83% at low hills), reported decrease in snowfall. The majority of farmers at low altitude and mid altitude reported decline in apple farming whereas 71% farmers at high hill areas refused decline in apple farming. About 73–83% farmers admitted delay in apple’s harvesting period. At mid hills apple scab and at low hills pest attack on apple crops are considered as the indicators of climate change. The change in land use practices was attributed to climate change and in many areas the land under apple farming was replaced for production of coarse grains, seasonal vegetables and other horticulture species. Scientific investigation claiming changes in Indian Himalayan climate corroborates perceptions of farmers, as examined during the present study.
Highlights
The mountain ecosystem is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to the climate change and so that the mountain communities, especially those mainly depend on animal husbandry, marginal agriculture and horticulture products
The majority of farmers (78%) at low altitude (,2500 m) and 72% at mid altitude (2500–3000 m) reported in decline of apple farming whereas majority of farmers (71%) of high hill areas (.3000 m) admitted that there was no decline in the apple farming
About 72% farmers at low hills believed that change in climate, especially increasing temperature, was responsible for decline in fruit size and so that the quality
Summary
The mountain ecosystem is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to the climate change and so that the mountain communities, especially those mainly depend on animal husbandry, marginal agriculture and horticulture products. The Himalayan mountain ecosystem, at present, is facing the challenges created due to increasing aridity, warmer winter season, variability in precipitation, and unexpected frosts and storms [1], [2], which largely affect the entire range of biodiversity, including agriculture and horticulture crops [1], [3]. All three north-west Himalayan states of India - Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir, and Uttarakhand are the major apple producing states of India. In these states, the apples are grown at altitude ranging from 1200 m to 3500 m above mean sea level [10]
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