Srinagar, May 08: The untimely snowfall, dip in temperature and hailstorms have affected apple orchards in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian districts on Monday.
Following the snowfall, the Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir has issued a fresh advisory for the orchardist community for taking precautionary measures to avoid any loss to the orchards.
“There has been untimely snowfall coupled with hailstorms in some districts of South Kashmir viz. Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian,” the advisory mentioned.
“It has also resulted in a dip in the mercury. This will tell upon the fruit set particularly in those areas where the orchards are in full bloom and it may also result in premature fruit drop and spread of various diseases,” it said.
It advised farmers to follow recommendations in mitigating the effects of snowfall/hailstorms and prevent/eradicate the infection of various diseases in their orchards.
“Farmers should shake the trees immediately and should not allow the snow to accumulate on the branches and drain out the accumulated snow/rainwater through drainage channels,” the advisory said.
The horticulture department has also issued fungicides and asked farmers to spray the same after the improvement in the weather. “Spray Zineb + Hexaconazole or Tubeconazole + Captan water or Fluxapyroxad + Pyraclostrobin. After a gap of three days, spray Urea @ 0.2% (200 g per 100 litre of water),” the advisory said.
The orchardists have been advised to remove the fallen fruitlets and leaves from the orchards immediately. “Spraying should be done during dry and cool hours and preferably use mist sprays,” it said.
South Kashmir and other parts of the valley have been receiving hailstorms and rains over the past twenty days affecting the spray schedule and hitting crops, especially apples at many places.
On April 24, hailstorms coupled with rains affected apple orchards in Anantnag and Kulgam, following which the Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir issued an advisory for the orchardist community for taking precautionary measures to avoid any loss to the orchards.
