Apple growers worry after erratic weather, dip in temperature

Srinagar, May 01: The continuous rains in Kashmir valley over the past two weeks have left the apple growers and farmers concerned about the crop production this year.
Apple growers said that the erratic weather has disturbed the normal spray schedule in orchards and the sudden rains have also caused losses to the farmers.
Manzoor Ahmad, an orchardist from Baramulla said the continuous rains have added to the worries of farmers and it has also caused disturbances in the spray schedule.
“Over the past two weeks we have been struggling to spray the fungicides but we are not sure whether the weather will allow us or not. The rains also wash the sprays,” he said.
He said that the dip in temperature following snowfall in the upper reaches causes pests and diseases in apple orchards and it will impact the quality of the fruit as well.
Apple growers have also expressed concern over the valley’s horticulture sector which remains in constant threat due to climate change for the last several years.
“Now May has started and the apple trees are still in flowering at many places. Although at places the flowering stage has ended. We are witnessing abnormal weather patterns and this has worried farmers,” said Ali Mohammad, a farmer from Budgam.
He said when rains hit orchards it causes diseases and the sprays and fungicides are also high in prices in markets which are unaffordable for small-scale growers.
“If we spray one fungicide it takes us nearly Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for 10 kanals of land. If rains occur during the spray it may cause losses,” he said.
“Every year we have to fight new challenges and there is a need now to implement the crop insurance scheme, which the government has already announced in principle,” they said.
Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Union said due to continuous rains there are more chances of scab for apple.
“When the weather is sunny there are less chances of scab as seen last year. But this year, there are more chances of scab break out and crop production may decline,” he said.
Bashir said that the recent snowfall at the peripheries has affected the flowering period of apple. He also said hailstorm has also affected apple orchards in several areas of Kashmir.
“We have been demanding crop insurance schemes for horticulture so that growers won’t suffer every year. But nothing has been done so far,” he said.
In March also, the valley’s farmers were worried about the early blooming of apple trees, which was an unusual phenomenon that experts attribute to global warming and fluctuating temperatures.