Apple Farming in Himachal waiting for manpower from Nepal

New Delhi, June 10: The ongoing impasse over territory between Nepal and India, closed neighbours for centuries have an unexpected impact on something which has nothing to do with the border or diplomacy.  It is an innocuous fruit “apple” farmed largely in India’s hilly Himachal Pradesh besides Kashmir. This season apple cultivation in Himachal has assumed more importance in view of the problems in Kashmir over harvesting amid prolonged lock down even prior to the pandemic.

For years Himachal’s four thousand crore rupees apple economy  largely depended on thousands of migrant Nepali labourers because of their sturdy health and familiarity of the same climate. From beginning to harvesting the huge work force from Nepal nurtured the apple orchards. Apple harvesting starts from this month and lasts till October in Himachal . But Nepalese labourers are required throughout the year. Right from farm management including spraying, digging, to the harvesting and post-harvesting management, Nepalese labourers have become key players. There are weather vagaries and the menace of stray, or sometimes, wild animals. But these do not deter the Nepalese to stop working in the orchards in which they are also deft.

This time in view of COVID 19 pandemic the labourers  like their Indian counterparts left in hordes to their country. Now with the season picking up they are not able to come back even if they want. Those who stayed back despite the pandemic want to go home any day the opportunity knocks their door.

Tensions between India and Nepal are the major cause behind the ongoing exodus of Nepalese labourers from Himachal. With borders sealed and tougher lockdown restrictions imposed, no new labourers are now entering Himachal Pradesh, where the fruit harvesting season has commenced and just a month is left for the apple crop harvesting.

The apple economy has long been dependent on the Nepalese migrant labourers. Due to tough working conditions, none other than the Nepalese labourers could work in the orchards of Himachal. Though machines have made the business easy labourers are still considered the backbone of the apple economy. Due to precarious working conditions, ne other than the

The area under apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh has increased from 3,025 hectares in 1960-61 to 109,553 hectares in 2014-15, which constitutes more than 50 percent of the total area under fruit cultivation. According to Himachal’s Economic Survey for 2019-20, a total of 6.64 lakh tonnes of apples was marketed against 3.68 lakh tonne in 2018-19.

State Chief Minister Mr  Jai Ram Thakur held a press conference and said that the government will arrange the travel of Nepalese migrants from Nepal borders to Himachal Pradesh. The state has also written to the Union government in this regard, he added. Many of them had returned to Nepal, but still some of them are here.

According to a rough estimate, hundreds of migrant workers from Nepal could not come to Himachal due to lockdown this time round. Most of them visit Himachal in parts. Many who come during apple season return to Nepal when another lot of workers trickle in. But this time around, no one could come from Nepal between March and April. With the situation easing a little now, Nepalese labourers are heading home fearing the pandemic situation and tension in the border.

Rumors are flying thick. Some labourers heard that Nepal could close its border for those living outside the country. The rumors are enough to compel them to head home amid reports of strained relations between two nations. There is a rumor that the government could cancel the citizenship if the Nepalis  do not return soon or if the tension among nations escalates, borders could be sealed. Labourers are apprehensive about extension of lockdown as well as border sealing. The borders are sealed. Very few are allowed to enter the country. Several others who have been coming from different parts are being quarantined at the border, a dreaded process in both the countries. (eom)