Dry winter worries HP farmers

With virtually no rain in Himachal Pradesh for the past four months, farmers are deeply worried over the drought-like conditions in the hill state.

“In January, the precipitation was 84 per cent less than the long-term normal measure of rainfall,” Manmohan Singh, director of the state meteorological department, told Business Standard today.

December was even drier, with almost no snow and rainfall in the state, adding to the drought-like conditions.

The state’s first heavy snowfall usually happens in late December, followed by frequent spells in January. But, there has been only one light spell of snowfall in mid-January so far this season.

In the mid-hills, apple and stone fruit farmers hope for snowfall in February. Farmers in the lower hills, on the other hand, still hope for rains.

“Due to a snowless winter last year, the apple yield fell drastically later in the year. If snow eludes us again, the consequences could be worse this year,” said Lekh Raj Chauhan, president of the state’s fruit and vegetable growers’ association.

“Water sources have dried at many places. The level has fallen in streams and rivers. Apple trees are in stress due to low moisture,” a farmer said.