Israel-made nets offer apple growers a shield from hail hit

Anti-hail nets are mesh coverings installed over apple trees before the main hailstorm season. They act as a physical shield, reducing the force of hailstones hitting apples, branches, and leaves. This matters because one storm can destroy months of work, reduce marketable yields, and cut farmers’ income.

In Himachal Pradesh, farmers usually install the nets in March or April, when the pink bud starts coming. The mesh catches or deflects hail while its specialized construction avoids excessively reducing sunlight. Farmers remove the nets around harvest time, often around September, depending on the variety and local risk.

The nets cost about ₹2,000-2,500 per tree and last around ten years. Nearly 35-40% of Himachal’s orchards are covered, according to a growers’ representative. Government subsidies can reduce the installation burden, making the nets a longer-term safeguard against unpredictable weather.

Indian apple growers are importing more Israeli anti-hail nets because changing weather patterns are threatening both production and fruit quality. Hailstorms can damage apples and trees, reducing marketable yields and farmer income. Himachal Pradesh, a major growing region, is seeing rising awareness of crop-protection technology.

Israel-made nets are valued for their durable material, specialized mesh, and ability to protect fruit without excessively cutting sunlight. These features suit Himachal’s orchards, where apples need protection from hail but still require good light for growth. Farmers install the nets before the main hailstorm season and remove them near harvest.

Imports from Israel rose 21.6%, reaching $5.49 million in 2025-26, from $4.51 million the previous year. Indian manufacturers now also make the nets, but growers consider Israeli products superior in quality. Domestic nets are reported to be 10-15% cheaper.

Apple farming is widespread across India, but production is concentrated in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. India produces about 2.55-2.8 million tonnes of apples each year. Jammu & Kashmir is the largest producer, contributing 60-65% of national output, or more than 2 million tonnes annually.

Himachal Pradesh contributes about 37% of India’s apple production. Its apple-growing area reached around 1.16 lakh hectares in 2024, compared with 400 hectares in 1950. The state produced 5.02 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, showing the scale of its orchard economy.

Anti-hail-net adoption is especially strong in Himachal Pradesh. Growers estimate that about 35-40% of orchards there are covered. Adoption is rising as unpredictable weather threatens yields and quality. India also exported 35,372 tonnes of apples in 2025-26, up 4% from the previous year.

Hailstorms can turn a productive orchard into a major financial loss. Hail damages the apples and trees, reducing both the amount of fruit harvested and the share that is good enough to sell. The result is lower marketable yield, weaker fruit quality, and reduced income for growers.

The danger is especially severe because hail can strike after farmers have already invested months of labor and money. Apple farmers in Himachal Pradesh describe hailstorms as capable of destroying months of hard work in minutes. Damaged fruit may lose quality, while tree damage can affect the orchard beyond one harvest.

Anti-hail nets are intended to reduce this exposure. By shielding fruit and trees, they can improve quality and support more consistent yields. A Himachal farmer said installing nets gave him greater confidence, viewing the initial expense as a long-term safeguard against unpredictable weather.

Apple trees need protection from hail, but they also need suitable light conditions for fruit growth. A covering that blocks too much sunlight could create a new problem, affecting the orchard’s growing environment. The useful design challenge is therefore to shield apples and trees while keeping enough light available.

Israeli anti-hail nets are known for specialized mesh construction and for protecting fruit without excessively reducing sunlight. Farmers place them over trees in March or April, around the time the pink bud starts coming. The net remains in place through the main hailstorm risk and is generally removed around harvest.

This balance helps explain why Israeli nets are attracting Indian buyers. Himachal growers face unpredictable weather, but they cannot simply trade hail protection for poorer growing conditions. Israeli imports rose to $5.49 million in 2025-26. Domestic products are available, but Israeli nets are considered superior in quality.

Farmers do not have to rely only on Israeli nets bought at full price. Indian manufacturers have entered the market in recent years, offering domestic nets that are reported to be 10-15% cheaper. The article notes that Israeli nets are considered better in quality, but local products provide a lower-cost option.

Financial assistance is also available. The Centre’s Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture provides a 50% subsidy on net costs. A Himachal Pradesh government scheme offers assistance of up to 50% as well. These schemes can reduce the initial investment, which averages ₹2,000-2,500 per tree.

Support has limits. MIDH assistance covers up to 10,000 square metres per beneficiary, while Himachal’s scheme is capped at 5,000 square metres. Nets last around ten years, so farmers and officials view subsidized installation as a longer-term investment in more resilient orchards.

Hail is solid ice that falls from thunderstorms. Inside a powerful storm, strong rising air currents lift water droplets high into very cold parts of the cloud. The droplets freeze, and additional supercooled water can collect and freeze onto them, building larger ice stones in layers.

The storm’s updraft keeps these growing stones suspended and may cycle them through different parts of the cloud. Each cycle can add another layer of ice. Once a hailstone becomes too heavy for the rising air to support, it falls toward the ground. Larger stones can strike apples, branches, and leaves with enough force to cause serious damage.

The article does not explain how hail forms, but this established meteorological process explains why hailstorms are dangerous for orchards. Anti-hail nets provide a physical barrier during the storm, reducing direct impacts on fruit and trees and helping preserve marketable yields.