Srinagar, June 21: The directorate of Horticulture Kashmir would run a mass campaign about the Apple Leaf Blotch Miner for the orchardists in several districts.
Subject Matter Specialist, Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir, Mohd Amin Bhat said the Director Horticulture Kashmir, Ghulam Rasool Mir recently chaired a meeting on Apple Leaf Blotch Miner which is affecting apple orchards.
“Mass campaign shall be organized for awareness about the Apple Leaf Blotch Miner among the orchardists of the districts of Shopian, Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Budgam where there is high infestation of the pest. The religious places, social platforms, electronic and print media should be used for campaigning and awareness,” the SMS said.
He informed that SKUAST-K will impart training to the officers/officials of the Department of Horticulture regarding the demarcation/delimitation of the areas into different zones depending upon the severity and intensity of the pest in order to manage it efficiently.
The meeting has decided that training to the officers and officials of the department will also be provided regarding the identification of different stages of the pest, particularly the susceptible stages, where the pest infestation can be controlled to the maximum possible level.
“It was unanimously decided that pheromone/sticky traps shall be incorporated in the spray schedule for the year 2024-25,” Bhat said.
He said as the period of usage of two years for the pesticides incorporated in the ad hoc advisory is near completion so the registration of the new chemicals and their subsequent incorporation in the advisory shall be taken up with the Enforcement Directorate.
Bhat said that Insecticide Cypermethrin has shown encouraging results in the control of the Apple Leaf Blotch Miner when applied one week before dormant HMO spray.
“So it has been recommended that the orchardists shall continue its use before dormant HMO spray till the infestation of the pest is brought below economic threshold level,” he said.
Bhat urged orchardists to actively collaborate with the Department and research institutions to stay updated on the latest advancements in pest management techniques and encouraged them to reach out to the Department of Horticulture Kashmir or SKUAST-K.
Dr Manzoor Ahmad Parray, Head Division of Entomology, SKUAST-K stressed that all the institutions like Department of Horticulture, SKUAST-K and Department of Agriculture should work in coordination and coherence for the well-being of the farming community.
