Kashmir's apple economy faces mounting pressure as unseasonably warm, dry winters delay critical planting seasons.

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.