The quest for the ideal apple variety in India is gaining momentum as local farmers and scientists navigate both challenges and inspiration. In a recent story highlighted by technology reporter Priti Gupta from Mumbai, the focus centers around farmer Kakasaheb Sawant, who resides in the subtropical climate of southern India, particularly in Maharashtra. Unconventional for an apple grower, Sawant undertook the rather ambitious project of planting apple trees, despite temperatures in his area soaring to a sweltering 43 degrees Celsius.
Having purchased 100 saplings, Sawant was able to nurture 80 to maturity, yielding an impressive 30 to 40 kilograms of fruit per tree last year. His endeavor has attracted considerable local interest, making his farm somewhat of a marvel among his peers. Unfortunately, while Sawant remains optimistic about the future of his apple farm, the apples harvested thus far have not reached the desired sweetness for commercial viability. Despite this setback, he expresses hope, viewing it as merely a bootstrap phase, projecting that within four to five years as the trees acclimatize, they will yield better, sweeter fruit.
In a broader context, Sawant’s experience is but a small part of a greater narrative regarding apple production in India, which has seen a rise in output to 2.5 million tonnes over the past five years. However, the shortfall in matching rising domestic demand has resulted in imports almost doubling to 600,000 tonnes during this timeframe. Analyst S. Chandrashekhar highlights the alarming shortage in apple production and notes that very few new players are entering the market, compounded by a lack of investment in the sector. Additionally, he discusses the criticality of chilling hours—the long winter periods essential for healthy apple development—which many regions in India lack, especially when compared to countries with favorable climates like the UK, where apples flourish.
Most of India’s apple production stems from the northern regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Yet, there are rising concerns that many orchards here are becoming less productive due to age and shifting climatic conditions. Chandrashekhar observes that many farms are still relying on older trees, which yields lower production, and identifies climate change as a contributing factor to diminishing apple yield, further complicating the industry’s ability to meet domestic demand.
Emerging solutions are now being explored as some scientists and farmers attempt to cultivate low-chill apple varieties that require fewer winter chilling hours—approximately 400 hours between 0C and 6C—as an alternative. Research initiatives at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) in Ranchi, Eastern India, are testing different low-chill varieties, though so far success has been limited. Dr. Majid Ali of BAU mentions that only one tested variety produced fruit in 2024, albeit of subpar quality. The combination of an unsuitable climate and poor soil conditions has proven detrimental to the plants’ growth, and further experimentation is projected over the next few years.
These explorations into low-chill apple farming face skepticism from other experts within the industry. Dr. Dinesh Thakur, an associate director at a horticulture research center in Himachal Pradesh, expresses doubts about the commercial viability of apples grown in non-traditional regions, noting issues related to taste and shelf life. He highlights that the vast challenges posed by climate change are exacerbated by unpredictable weather patterns that cause annual financial losses for farmers.
In responding to these challenges, regions are planting orchards at higher elevations and experimenting with numerous apple varieties to identify those adaptable to changing conditions. There have also been initiatives to develop climate-resilient apple genotypes, with promising early results such as advanced ripening times. As the apple production landscape continues to evolve, Chandrashekhar emphasizes the need for substantial investments in the industry to revitalize old orchards and spur new planting efforts.
The pressing question remains—who will make the investment necessary to boost India’s apple economy? Solutions like developing ancillary products such as apple juice and jams are being considered as potential avenues to increase profitability and expand the market. Overall, the quest for the perfect apple in India is an intricate interplay of tradition, innovation, and adaptation to an ever-changing climate.