India, Jan. 15 -- The absence of winter rain and snowfall has emerged as a serious threat to Uttarakhand's agriculture and horticulture sectors, particularly apple cultivation in the higher reaches of the state, officials said.

Apple trees require 1,000 to 1,500 hours of exposure to temperatures between 0degC and 7degC to complete their dormancy cycle, explained Bharat Singh Kathait, horticulture in-charge of the Dhanaulti apple belt.

"The absence of snowfall has kept ground temperatures higher than usual, disrupting the trees' natural rhythm. This could result in weak flowering, poor fruit setting, smaller apple size, and duller colour, all of which reduce market value," he said.

December rainfall has remained weak over the past five ...