Shimla, Sept. 17 -- The impact of climate change on Himachal Pradesh's apple economy, valued at over Rs.5,500 crore, has become increasingly visible, with market arrivals down 44% from last year. Concerned over the impact of climate change on apple production, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had directed a team from the horticulture university to study the situation and determine measures to safeguard apple cultivation. Touted to be the backbone of the state's economy, around 2.50 lakh orchardists are directly engaged in apple cultivation across the districts of Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, and Sirmaur. The apple harvesting season in the state runs from mid-July through November, with peak activity happening in August and September. By September 14, only about 95 lakh apple boxes had reached the markets in the state. The government estimates that the figure will barely reach 1.50 crore by the end of the season, whereas last year-for the first time in Himachal's history-over 3.50 crore boxes had reached the markets. The horticulture department data said 1.62 crore boxes sold in 2025 in the corresponding period. This represents a drop of approximately 44% in market arrivals compared to last year. Production this year is projected to be less than half of the previous year's output. Erratic weather patterns have severely affected the apple crop. Chief minister's principal media adviser, Naresh Chauhan, said the chief minister has directed a team from the horticulture university to study the situation and determine measures to safeguard apple cultivation....