Srinagar, Jan. 21 -- Kashmir's apple orchards, long considered the backbone of the Valley's economy and the pride of its people, are facing an unprecedented challenge. The dry winter that has unfolded this season has left growers anxious and uncertain, as the absence of snowfall and the unusual rise in day temperatures threaten to disrupt the delicate rhythm upon which apple cultivation depends. For decades, snowfall has been more than a seasonal occurrence; it has been the natural reservoir that sustains orchards, replenishes groundwater, and ensures soil moisture for the months ahead. Without it, the cycle of dormancy, flowering, and fruit development risks being thrown into disarray, with consequences that extend far beyond the orchard...