Climate change is causing bees to die in Himachal Pradesh and the Kashmir Valley. This has led to major losses for apple growers in the two areas. While apple production is estimated to decrease by about 30 per cent this time in Himachal Pradesh, a 20 per cent loss is estimated in Kashmir.
One Himachal Pradesh apple grower stated: “This year, when it rained in mid-April, bees in our garden died in their boxes. They didn’t get a chance to come out. When they did not come out, our apple crop could not be pollinated. Due to this, there is going to be a loss of 30 to 35 per cent in apple production.”
A grower from the Kotkhai area of Shimla district, made similar observations. “April was extremely cold. The last time this was the case was 37 years ago. It was time for the apple crop to flower. But from April 15, there was very heavy rainfall. Consequently, the cold increased. I had bee boxes in my gardens. But the bees died. Apple flowers could not be pollinated properly. Therefore, the loss of apples is bound to happen.”
Source: downtoearth.org.in