Erratic weather conditions in the Kashmir Valley have severely impacted apple cultivation, with multiple hailstorms in June 2026 causing widespread damage to orchards in the region's prime apple-growing districts, according to reports from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and local growers.
Weather Events and Impact
On June 18, over half a dozen apple-producing villages in the upper belt of south Kashmir's Kulgam district were lashed by a hailstorm. A day earlier, an intense spell had swept across several villages in neighbouring Shopian district, known for producing the region's premium apples. This was the third time in the month that hailstorms hit apple orchards in south Kashmir, spelling fresh trouble for growers already struggling with erratic weather patterns, as reported by The Hindu BusinessLine.
Officials at the India Meteorological Department in Srinagar said the region recorded around six to seven spells of hailstorm in the past month, with events reported from across the Valley.
| Reported Hailstorm Events in June 2026 | District | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Day before June 18 | Shopian | Intense spell across several villages, premium apple region |
| June 18 | Kulgam | Over half a dozen villages lashed by hailstorm |
| Throughout month (6-7 spells) | Entire Valley | IMD reports widespread hailstorm events |
Grower Perspectives
Local farmers described the severity of the storms. Rayees Ahmad, an apple cultivator from Keegam in Shopian, said, “The marble-sized hailstones caused bruises on the apple surface.” He noted that within minutes, all his hopes for a good harvest were shattered, and this was the first time he had witnessed such a terrible hailstorm, which lasted for at least 20 minutes in his area.
Izhan Javed, an apple and cherry grower and CEO of Fruit Master Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd, said the impact of climate change was becoming increasingly visible in horticulture. “This season, we have witnessed six to eight hailstorm episodes, which is unprecedented,” he stated. Javed estimated the impact at 70 to 80 percent, though the exact extent of damage is not known.
“The marble-sized hailstones caused bruises on the apple surface.” — Rayees Ahmad, apple cultivator from Shopian
Climate Change Context
Mohammad Anees, Assistant Professor at the University of Kashmir, acknowledged the rising frequency of extreme weather events in Jammu and Kashmir. “Unusual weather patterns driven by climate change continue to damage standing crops,” he said. The recurring hail events have battered apple farms across the Valley, causing significant damage to fruit crops.
Crop Protection and Adaptation
In the absence of a crop insurance scheme, farmers are increasingly looking at high-density orchards as a possible adaptation strategy to climate stress. According to growers, such orchards can be protected using anti-hail nets. However, in the case of traditional orchards, where trees are extremely large, these nets may not be helpful. Farmers emphasized that government support in the form of subsidies on protective infrastructure, including anti-hail nets, is crucial to safeguard horticulture against growing climate risks.
Implications for Apple Supply
For commodity traders and procurement teams, the recurring hailstorms and estimated 70-80% impact on apple crops in Kashmir signal potential supply shortages and price volatility in the domestic apple market. Although the exact output figures remain uncertain due to the lack of precise damage assessment, the frequency and severity of these weather events underscore the vulnerability of Kashmir's apple sector to climate variability. Without adaptation measures such as high-density orchards and protective nets, future supply disruptions may become more common, affecting both growers and buyers.
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