Trends in apple area, production and productivity: A detailed decomposition analysis for major apple producing states of India

Apple (Malus domestica) is a major temperate fruit crop of India. It forms a significant portion of the horticulture in north western and north eastern states of India. Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are the two major Apple producing states of India with a contribution of 75 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively. The study was conducted using secondary data of apple area, production and productivity for a period from 1993-94 to 2022-23. The period was further divided into sub-periods I (1993-94 to 2002-03), II (2003-04 to 2012-13) and III (2013-14 to 2022-23). The highest growth in area as well as production was observed in Jammu & Kashmir in Period II with Compound Annual Growth Rates (CAGR%) of 5.0 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively. In case of production, Himachal Pradesh experienced a positive growth over entire study period as a whole (2.6%). The decomposition analysis showed that area was the major contributor to growth of apple production in the state of Jammu & Kashmir (78%), whereas in Himachal Pradesh yield was the major cause of growth in production with an effect of 55.83 per cent. The yield in case of Jammu & Kashmir was the highest, even higher than nation’s average but it was somewhat stagnant during the study period, whereas the growth in terms of area was significant. The expansion of area under apple cultivation can be attributed to flat terrains availability for apple cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir, however are expansion in Himachal Pradesh is difficult due to hilly areas cultivation of apple in the state.