Snowfall in spring
Just a week ago, the Valley was reeling under an unusually hot spell, with temperatures in many places soaring well above the May average. Today, as snow blankets the upper reaches and heavy rain lashes the plains, we are reminded once again of the growing unpredictability of our weather patterns. The shift is so drastic: the weather fluctuating between above average temperature and snowfall is pointing towards unmistakable signs of climate change.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar, places like Pahalgam and Gulmarg recorded maximum temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below normal, more suited to March than the late May. Srinagar itself shivered at 14.5°C, a stark contrast to the recent warmth. This is for the second successive year that Kashmir has witnessed unseasonal snowfall. And this is not good for our agriculture, especially horticulture. Erratic weather patterns affect the pollination of apple trees which, in turn, reduces the apple yield. This is due to the unseasonal snow or rain and the consequent low temperatures during the flowering stage.
Stakes are high for Kashmir: The Valley accounts for about 78 percent of India’s annual apple production, totalling around 25-26 lakh metric tonnes (MTs). This makes apple farming one of the primary sources of employment, engaging nearly 3.5 million farmers, constituting 27 percent of the region’s population. The export of apples contributes over 8 percent to the region’s GDP.
That said, the implications of climate change go beyond horticulture. It affects the larger agriculture and also the water availability. We need only contrast the May snowfall to the inadequate precipitation in winter, which went largely snowless. The situation was no different in the preceding winter. This affects glacier replenishment, a trend that reduces discharge in our water bodies in spring and summer when it is needed for irrigation. As the world warms, the Himalayas are heating up faster than the global average, and Kashmir, surrounded by them, is feeling its impact now year after year.
