Srinagar, Dec 22: Long dry spells coupled with winter can affect agriculture, horticulture, experts said today suggesting that early fruit plantation is not recommended in winter.
Tahir Ahmad Tahir, Agriculture Extension Assistant Agriculture Department Kashmir, if dry weather continues there would less germination due to lack of moisture as the dormancy period has started.
“When there is less germination there would be less production. Snowfall is very important when we talk of Kashmir’s agriculture in order to grow different kinds of crops like vegetables, paddy etc.,” he said.
The Agriculture Extension Assistant also said that every crop needs moisture and when the temperature fluctuates it can impact the growth of agriculture crops.
He said over years, Kashmir is witnessing a different trend and people are shifting from paddy to horticulture or grow maize due to lack of water during the season.
“This year also the paddy has been affected at many places. Even at some places, farmers had prepared paddy saplings but they could not plant those saplings and sowed maize due to lack of irrigation facilities,” he said.
He said in most of the places in Kashmir, the source of water is glaciers or natural water and there is lack of micro-irrigation technology.
Tahir said precipitation during the winter is important for agricultural land as the rains or snowfall is a sustained source of moisture for upcoming crops.
Dr Tariq Rasool, Associate Professor Plant Pathology at SKUAST-K, said in winter months everything remains in dormancy. He appealed to farmers not to go for early fruit plantation which is not recommended saying that some people do it in winter.
“The right time for new plantation is March. If people go for fruit plantation this time it would have consequences in the future,” he said.
Dr Tariq also said if the dry spell continues and there is no precipitation or snowfall it could have consequences in the coming season.
