From Hot Climates to Sweet Apples: India's Quest for the Perfect Fruit

In a remarkable journey, Kakasaheb Sawant, a farmer from subtropical southern India, has taken on the challenge of cultivating apple trees in an environment considered unsuitable for apple farming. Despite the extreme heat of 43°C in Maharashtra, Sawant’s venture has sparked curiosity and admiration as he successfully grew 80 apple trees that produced 30 to 40 kilograms of fruit each last year. However, while local interest in his apples has grown, the fruit’s lack of sweetness has prevented him from selling them profitably. Undeterred, Sawant remains hopeful that over the next four to five years, his trees will yield sweeter fruit.

India’s apple market is under strain as domestic production has increased by 15% over the last five years, reaching 2.5 million tons. Yet, this surge hasn’t matched the nation’s rising demand, leading to a doubling of apple imports to 600,000 tons during the same period. Market analyst S Chandrashekhar highlights the issue of aging orchards in traditional apple-growing regions like Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, where productivity has diminished drastically due to climate change and older trees producing fewer apples.

In an effort to expand apple cultivation beyond controlled climates, scientists and farmers are exploring low-chill apple varieties that require as little as 400 hours of cold exposure, significantly less than the traditional varieties that thrive in temperate climates. Researchers at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) have begun testing these varieties in regions like Ranchi, where conditions are not ideal. So far, the results have been limited and primarily experimental, with only one variety yielding minimal fruit that lacks quality.

Skepticism abounds regarding the commercial viability of apples grown in hotter climates. Dr. Dinesh Thakur, a local horticulturist, expresses doubts about low-chill apples, stating that they often lack sweetness and have a short shelf life, branding them as more of a novelty than a sustainable crop. Thakur’s work focuses on breeding better apples and adapting them to resist extreme weather caused by climate change.

To address these challenges, some orchards are being relocated to higher elevations to benefit from cooler temperatures. Additionally, Thakur’s team is experimenting with 300 apple varieties aimed at creating resilient apple genotypes that can adapt to climate changes. Their goal is to develop apples that mature earlier and maintain quality despite unpredictable weather patterns.

Chandrashekhar emphasizes the need for investment in replanting new saplings and diversifying apple production into value-added products like juice and jam to support the apple economy in India. The future of apples in India hinges not just on scientific advancements but also on substantial financial backing to rejuvenate the industry and enhance the viability of apple cultivation across varying climates.