1Department of Agribusiness Management, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India
2College of Forestry, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
*Corresponding author: pankajthakur.abm@gmail.com
Online published on 27 October, 2025.
This study investigated the socio-economic characteristics and constraints faced by apple growers during adopting risk management practice in Himachal Pradesh. Data were collected from 432 farmers across eight blocks through a multi-stage sampling technique. The demographic profile revealed that 94.2% of respondents were male with 67.5% engaged in farming as their primary occupation. Education levels varied, with 26.4% of respondents completing senior secondary education. The majority of farmers (54.5%) had small landholdings of less than one hectare. In terms of income, 39.6% of farmers earned between ₹ 2 and ₹ 4.5 lakh yearly from apple cultivation, while 32.9% earned more than ₹ 4.5 lakh. The study highlighted several important constraints that limit farmers’ capacity to increase productivity while mitigating risk. Marketing difficulties were mostly caused by delayed payments in contract farming (mean score 3.67), which had a substantial impact on the financial stability of farmers with smaller land holdings. Herbicide and plant protection expenditures were among the production obstacles, with a mean score of 4.44 reflecting farmers’ concerns about environmental implications. Additionally, limited access to technical advice and the mismatch of available guidance with local farming conditions further exacerbated the challenges faced by farmers. This study highlights the critical need for improved marketing structures, financial assistance, and targeted technical coaching to support Himachal Pradesh apple producers in increasing resilience and optimizing farm management practices. Addressing these obstacles is crucial to increasing the region’s apple agricultural sustainability.
⓿ Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh face challenges like delayed payments, high production costs and limited access to technical support, which affect their ability to manage risks effectively.
⓿ The study suggests improving marketing systems, providing timely financial support, and offering targeted technical training to help farmers overcome these challenges and sustain apple farming.
Apple Cultivation, Risk Management, Socio-Economic Constraints, Himachal Pradesh, Farmers’ Productivity
