The study analyses what is the changes taken place in the production and productivity of apple in Himachal Pradesh during the last 20 years due to change in the climatic condition. The rich diversity of agro-climatic conditions, topographical variations and altitudinal differences coupled with fertile, deep and wide drained soil favour the cultivation of temperate to sub-tropical fruits in Himachal. This particular suitability of Himachal has resulted in shifting of land use pattern from agriculture to fruit crops in the past few decades. The area under fruits, which was 792 hectares in 1950–51 with total production of 1200 tonnes increased to 211295 hectares during 2010–11. the total fruit production (2010–11) was 10.28 lakh tones. Apple is so far the most important fruit crop of Himachal Pradesh, which constitutes about 48 per cent of the total area under fruit crops and about 87 per cent of the total fruit production. Area under apple has increased from 400 hectare in 1950–51 to 3025 hectares in 1960–61 and 101485 hectares in 2010–11.
The study analyses the growth rates in response to area, production and productivity and to measure the magnitude of variability and association between growth and instability in apple crop during the period 1991–92 to 2010–2011. From last 20 years the production of apple is not commensurate with the increase in area and that there are wide year to year fluctuations in the production and productivity because of fluctuating in climate condition. The basic data used for the analytical purpose of the study relates to area, production and productivity of apple crop and rainfall besides many other agricultural variables. The data analysis is analysed by using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The whole study period is divided into three periods. The Ist period relates from 1991–92 to 2000–01, period IInd 2001–02 to 2010–11 and period IIIrd is whole study period from 1991–92 to 2010–11.
