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The apple farmers of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, are facing a tough season due to severe weather conditions and infrastructure issues, which are further exacerbated by the spread of leaf drop disease.
Heavy rains, hailstorms, and downpours have damaged apple crops, while leaf drop disease has further exacerbated the problem. The situation is dire, with many farmers struggling to make ends meet. The heavy rainfall and hailstorms have damaged a significant portion of the apple crops, resulting in reduced production and lower-quality apples. The apple prices are lower than last year, making it difficult for farmers to recover their losses. The poor road conditions have caused delays in transportation, resulting in some apples reaching the market late and further reducing their value. Farmers are facing significant financial losses due to crop damage and low crop prices. The farmers are worried about the future of their apple crops and the impact of climate change on their livelihoods. The farmers feel that the government is not taking adequate measures to support them, leaving them to fend for themselves. Anil Deshta, an apple farmer from Shimla, has seen his crops completely destroyed due to heavy rainfall. He hasn't been able to fetch a good price for his apples, and the production costs haven't been covered. Deshta is considering alternative crops or livelihoods, as the future of apple farming in the region seems uncertain. "This time, the weather has greatly affected the apple crops. Heavy rainfall completely destroyed our crops, and the apples did not even fetch their production value at the market. Deteriorating road conditions have caused delays, with many apples reaching the market late," he said. He further added, "The future seems bleak for apple farming, and the government is not taking any action. Diseases occur every year, and this year is no exception; they are uncontrollable," he said. Another farmer reports that adverse weather has damaged apple crops, leading to leaf loss, reduced production, and significantly lower apple prices compared to last year. Broken roads have exacerbated the situation by causing delays in transporting goods, resulting in a widespread issue. "The weather has damaged apple crops, with many trees losing leaves. As a result, apple prices are significantly lower than last year, and production has decreased. Broken roads have further compounded the issue, causing goods to get stuck. It's a widespread problem," he said. (ANI)
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