Kashmir's apple economy faces mounting pressure as unseasonably warm, dry winters delay critical planting seasons. Nurseries report sales declines of 25-30% as farmers hesitate to plant saplings in parched soil lacking adequate moisture. The region, which produces roughly 75% of India's apples and generates over 100 crore rupees annually, confronts a perfect storm of climate challenges. With February rainfall at its lowest since 1960 and temperatures running 9-11 degrees above normal, orchardists are postponing purchases of grafted saplings. This delay threatens future harvests and disrupts a supply chain that serves markets across northern India. The industry already faced significant losses last season from erratic weather, floods, and transportation disruptions during peak harvest.
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