Growth and decomposition analysis of apple production in Himachal Pradesh

Apple farming is the fastest growing economic activity of the state and due to varied agro-climatic conditions across the districts, there exists a large variation in the area output growth of apple fruit crop. The study is based on secondary data and the study period is divided into three sub periods namely P-I (1987–88 to 1996–97), P-II (1997–98 to 2006–07) andP-III (2007–08 to 2016–17). Area under apple increased during the P-I with a positive and high significant rate but in P-II & III, there has been relatively more emphasis on plantation of other fruits because of which the proportionate share of apple area has come down. The decomposition analysis revealed that during the P- I&II, area under apple in the state was the major contributing factor causing the change in production but during the P-III, it was the yield of apple that played the central role.