The apple industry in Kashmir, India is facing a crisis due to a series of challenges. The quality of apples this year has been affected by fungal scab, climate change, and economic hurdles. Around 40% of the apple production this year has been classified as C-grade, which is the lowest quality. The apple industry in Kashmir generates a significant amount of revenue and provides employment to millions of people. However, unusual weather patterns, such as unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms, have impacted the size, quality, and quantity of the crop.
The frequency of severe weather occurrences in Kashmir has increased in recent years, leading to crop damage and loss. Extreme weather events have also caused transportation challenges for farmers, as the region becomes cut off from the rest of the country during winter due to landslides on the only road connecting Kashmir to other states. Additionally, the influx of Iranian apples in India's fruit markets has affected the market share and price of Kashmiri apples. The Indian government's decision to waive off tariffs on imported apples has further contributed to the drop in prices.
Kashmiri apple farmers have raised their concerns with the government and have sought intervention to resolve the crisis. They are also concerned about the sale of sub-standard pesticides, which contribute to the spread of fungal scab in orchards. The decline in income for apple farmers has a direct impact on the domestic economy, as it affects consumption and the flow of money in the market. If the apple industry continues to suffer, people from all walks of life will be impacted.
In conclusion, the apple industry in Kashmir is facing a crisis due to the impact of fungal scab, climate change, and economic challenges. Unusual weather patterns and transportation difficulties have further exacerbated the situation. The influx of imported apples and the government's tariff waiver have also affected the market share and price of Kashmiri apples. The government's intervention is needed to address these issues and support the apple farmers in Kashmir.
Original news source: Kashmirβs famed apples face extreme weather and economic crisis (BBC)
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Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and then write a summary of the main points in 3-4 sentences. They can compare their summaries with a partner and discuss any differences or similarities.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: In groups of 4-6, students will discuss their opinions on the challenges faced by the apple industry in Kashmir. They will take turns sharing their views and reasons for their opinions, and then vote on which challenge they believe is the most significant. They can also discuss possible solutions to the crisis.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns choosing a vocabulary word from the article and drawing a picture to represent it. Their partner will then try to guess the word based on the drawing. They can switch roles and continue until they have practiced several vocabulary words from the article.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: In groups of 3-4, students will discuss the pros and cons of the government's decision to waive off tariffs on imported apples. They can create a list of arguments for and against this decision, and then present their ideas to the class. They can also engage in a debate or discussion about the topic.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, students will imagine themselves as apple farmers in Kashmir and make predictions about the future of the apple industry. They can discuss the possible outcomes of the current crisis and how it might impact their lives and the economy. They can also share their predictions with the class and discuss their reasoning.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
The main challenges facing the apple industry in Kashmir are fungal scab, climate change, and economic hurdles.
The quality of apples this year has been affected by fungal scab, resulting in around 40% of the apple production being classified as C-grade, which is the lowest quality.
Climate change and extreme weather events, such as unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms, have impacted the size, quality, and quantity of the apple crop in Kashmir.
Farmers in Kashmir face transportation challenges due to landslides on the only road connecting the region to other states, particularly during winter when the region becomes cut off from the rest of the country.
The influx of Iranian apples in India's fruit markets has affected the market share and price of Kashmiri apples, as they face competition from imported apples.
Kashmiri apple farmers are concerned about the sale of sub-standard pesticides, which contribute to the spread of fungal scab in orchards.
The decline in income for apple farmers has a direct impact on the domestic economy, as it affects consumption and the flow of money in the market.
Government intervention is necessary to address the crisis in the apple industry because it can help resolve issues related to fungal scab, provide support to farmers, regulate the sale of pesticides, and address the economic challenges faced by the industry.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The apple industry in Kashmir, India is facing a crisis due to a series of . The quality of apples this year has been by fungal scab, climate change, and economic hurdles. Around 40% of the apple this year has been classified as C-grade, which is the lowest quality. The apple industry in Kashmir generates a amount of revenue and provides employment to millions of people. However, unusual weather patterns, such as unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms, have impacted the size, quality, and of the crop. The frequency of severe weather occurrences in has increased in recent years, leading to crop damage and loss. Extreme weather events have also caused transportation challenges for , as the region becomes cut off from the rest of the country during winter due to landslides on the only road connecting Kashmir to states. Additionally, the influx of Iranian apples in India's fruit markets has affected the market share and price of Kashmiri apples. The Indian government's decision to waive off tariffs on apples has further contributed to the drop in prices. Kashmiri apple farmers have raised their with the government and have sought intervention to resolve the crisis. They are also concerned about the sale of sub-standard pesticides, which contribute to the spread of fungal scab in orchards. The decline in for apple farmers has a direct impact on the domestic economy, as it affects and the flow of money in the market. If the apple industry continues to suffer, people from all walks of life will be impacted. In conclusion, the apple in Kashmir is facing a crisis due to the impact of scab, climate change, and economic challenges. Unusual weather patterns and difficulties have further exacerbated the . The influx of imported apples and the government's tariff waiver have also affected the market share and price of Kashmiri apples. The government's intervention is needed to address these issues and support the apple farmers in Kashmir.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is the significance of the apple industry in Kashmir?
2. How would you feel if you were an apple farmer in Kashmir facing these challenges?
3. Do you think climate change is a major factor in the crisis facing the apple industry? Why or why not?
4. What do you think could be done to address the impact of fungal scab on the apple orchards?
5. How do you think the influx of Iranian apples has affected the market share and price of Kashmiri apples?
6. Do you think the government should have waived off tariffs on imported apples? Why or why not?
7. What other economic challenges do you think the apple industry in Kashmir is facing?
8. How do you think the decline in income for apple farmers affects the domestic economy?
9. What steps do you think the government should take to support the apple farmers in Kashmir?
10. Do you think imported apples should be banned in order to protect the local apple industry? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the crisis in the apple industry will impact the daily lives of people in Kashmir?
12. What are some potential solutions to the transportation challenges faced by apple farmers in Kashmir?
13. How do you think the spread of sub-standard pesticides can be prevented in orchards?
14. Do you think the apple industry in Kashmir can recover from this crisis? Why or why not?
15. What role do you think consumers can play in supporting the apple industry in Kashmir?
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