Warning Signals from the Apple Valleys of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas: Productivity Concerns and Pollination Problems (abridged version)

The productivity of many fruit and vegetable cash crops in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region appears to be worsening despite increases in inputs. The root cause seems to be lack of pollination, a factor rarely considered by farmers or extension workers. This book presents the findings of a survey carried out in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, to assess the problem of declining productivity, factors responsible for inadequate pollination, farmers management approaches, and ways of tackling the problem, using apples as an example. Part 1 contains an introduction to apple pollination issues followed by a synthesis of the results and implications of the studies. Part II presents the detailed findings for each of the field study sites. The abridged edition contains only Part 1 and the bibliography. The publication highlights the need to incorporate crop pollination management as an essential component of agricultural extension programmes and packages of practices. It will be of interest to all those interested in ensuring the productivity of cash crops in the HKH region.