Significant variation in mean state of the climate or in its variability persisting for an extended period (typically decades or longer) is referred as climate change. It may be due to natural internal processes or external forcing or persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere.1 Greenhouse gases like CO2, CH4, N2O, water vapours and ozone re-emit some of solar radiations in the form of short wave radiations to the earth surface and responsible for its warming.2 If they did not perform this useful function, most of the heat energy would escape, leaving the earth cold (about – 18oC) and unfit to support life.3 However, since the Industrial Revolution began about 150 years ago, man-made activities have added significant quantities of GHGs to the atmosphere. The atmospheric concentrations of CO2, CH4, N2O have grown by about 31%, 151% and 17%, respectively, between 1750 and 2000.1 Twenty years ago snowfall was regular phenomenon in high hills of Himachal Pradesh but in the last 20 years, only 2-3 instances of snowfall have been recorded.4 It has been recorded that the average maximum temperature rose by 0.58oC from the year of 1963 to 2007, whereas, the average minimum temperature rose by 2.75oC.5 Though, Kullu in northern Himachal Pradesh is well known for apple cultivation, but due to inadequate snowfall and improper chilling hours survivaling affected the cultivation of apple in the region.6 Chilling affects the flowering and subsequent fruit setting qualitatively as well as quantitatively.7have indicated that irregular bearing behavior of Starking Delicious is largely influenced by climatic conditions. The rain and hails during flowering adversely affects the fruit set, whereas, moderate temperature of 20oC with relatively low rains during flowering results in the good fruit set.8 The plants mortality rate due to drought was higher. The plants mortality rate due to drought was higher. About 80% of reduction in yield was estimated due to irrigation water shortage and 20% due to high evaporation rate in apples.4 reported decrease in chill unit hours in the apple growing areas of Himachal Pradesh. Most of the apple varieties require 1000-1600 hours (at or below 7.20C) of chill units depending upon the variety.9

The present study was carried out during 2014-15 in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, which is situated between 31º52’00” to 31º58’00” North latitude and 76º13’00” to 77º44’00” East longitudes.The cumulative chill units hours available for apple crop were calculated by using UTAH model for the period of 1986 to 2015 and a decrease of 6.38 chill units(CU) hours per year was recorded at Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Chill units for the last three decades i.e. 1986-1995, 1996-2005 and 2006-2015 also revealed a decreasing trend of the order of 63.79 CU decreased per decade.Monthly accumulation of chill unit hours during the same period for each winter month (November, December, January and February) revealed maximum decrease of 2.186 CU per year was observed for the month of February. Trend analysis of last five years 2011-2015 showed there was a huge decrease of 14.98 chill units per year. Data on apple productivity in Kullu district for last decade (2005-2014) showed a decreasing trend of the order of 0.183 tons/ha /year as per the regression equation y = -0.183x + 5.745. Thus the climatic conditions for apple cultivation in the Kullu district will be becoming unfavorable in the coming years.

Seed is the basic vital unit in agriculture, which is also basis for food security, conservation of biodiversity. It is also a means for the delivery of new technologies and support services to rural areas. Seed system is one of the most vital components of agricultural system that serves as an important element in strategies for agricultural development and poverty reduction. COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every system worldwide. Seed system is not devoid of its effects too. Seed supply chain has been disrupted badly with very minimal workers around this sector, right now. Not only this sector but that of food safety, World Food security, has been affected severely as well. Importance of quality seeds is being understood, and is also being seen as basic tool for a secure food supply because of this havoc going around in the world. Quality seeds ensures good crop stand because of its high genetic and physiological qualities. So, with the institutional and technological enhancements in seed sectors, quality seeds can be used as solution for food security with addition to food self-sufficiency too. Production of seeds by following proper seed cycle, unifying seed system with complete knowledge and technological training on post-harvest operations up to marketing, utilization of maximum seed policies, seed schemes national, international both needs to be done in order to be selfreliable, sustainable, standard in line with sustaining food security and enhancing productivity.

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