Uttarakhand’s fruit cultivation is facing a major threat from global warming, with apple, peach, plum, apricot, and pear trees gradually disappearing from the hills. Due to the shifting tree line towards higher altitudes and rising temperatures, even early blooming of rhododendrons this year raised concerns among scientists. The impact is visible from the deodar forests of the mountains to the mango orchards of the plains.
According to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, temperatures in the eastern Himalayas have risen, particularly in winter and spring. This has led to a 38% decline in deodar trees and a notable upward shift in the tree line, putting alpine meadows (bugyals) at risk. In the plains, premature flowering in mango trees has also been observed due to warmer weather patterns.
In Chamoli district alone, fruit production has dropped by approximately 53%, while Almora has seen a drastic 84% decline—currently the worst among all districts in the state. Scientists attribute this fall to reduced snowfall, unseasonal rain, and unusually warm winters, all symptoms of climate change.
Experiments involving artificial warming revealed that native plants failed to adapt to rising temperatures or migrate quickly enough to higher elevations. Many species now face the threat of extinction if climate trends continue.
Over the past seven years, Uttarakhand has witnessed a continuous decline in fruit production. As per Climate Central data, apple cultivation dropped from 25,201.58 hectares in 2016–17 to just 11,327.33 hectares in 2022–23—a 55% reduction. Apple output has decreased by 30%, and citrus production has declined by 58%. The total fruit cultivation area fell from 177,324 hectares to 81,692.58 hectares, with total fruit output declining from 662,847.11 metric tons to 369,447.3 metric tons during this period.
