Srinagar, Apr 24: Hailstorm has affected apple orchards in several parts of Kashmir following which the Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir has issued an advisory for the orchardist community for taking precautionary measures.
The fresh hailstorm coupled with rains has affected orchards in Anantnag and Kulgam with farmers saying that it has affected the apple orchards, mustard and vegetable fields.
Farmers said the hailstorm hits different parts of Kulgam district like Ashmuji Bhan, Chadder, Qaimoh, Khudwani, Redwani, Khrewan Chadder, Bugam Kulgam, Mirbazar and other parts.
In Anantnag district, the hailstorm has hit some parts of Achabal, Mattan side, Main town Anantnag, Hutmarah, Matipora Nanil Anantnag and Nambal.
“Three days ago rains coupled with hailstorm affected and damaged apple orchards. Vegetables and mustard fields have also suffered damage,” said Farooq Ahmad, a farmer from Tulinupura village in Kulgam. He said the hailstorm has affected 80 percent of crops.
“We appeal to the Horticulture Department to visit the area and take an assessment of the damage and provide some relief for the affected farmers,” he said.
Another farmer, Ghulam Rasool said the heavy hailstorm has caused damage not only to the fruit that are in the flowering stage but also affected tree branches. “Many villages have been affected by the hailstorm,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir has issued an advisory for orchardists in the valley in view of the damage caused to the fruit trees in hailstorm.
“In view of hailstorm in various areas of the valley and its synchronization with the petal fall stage of apple in most of the regions of the valley, the orchardists are advised to follow the recommendations in mitigating the effects of hail storm and prevent/eradicate the infection of various diseases in their orchards,” the advisory said.
Regarding apple/pear the advisory asked the orchardists that the hail affected orchards may be immediately sprayed with Zineb 68% + Hexaconazole 4% 72 WP @100g/100lts of water or Tubeconazole (6.7%) +Captan (26.9) 33.6SC @250 mls/100 Its. of water or Fluxapyroxad 250g/1+ Pyraclostrobin 250g/1 500SC @20mls/100 lts of water
It added said after a gap of three days, spray Urea @ 0.2% (200 g per 100 litre of water). “Remove the fallen fruitlets and leaves from the orchards immediately,” it said.
Regarding Plum/Peach/Apricot it advised farmers to spray Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% 75 WP @250g/100 litres of water or Thiophanate Methyl 70WP @50g/100 lts of water. “Remove the fallen fruitlets and leaves from the orchards immediately,” it said.
Dr Shamim Simnani, Professor Division of Fruit Sciences SKUAST Kashmir said Urea will heal the wounds of trees and the fungicides are necessary to prevent the infection.
“After Mancozeb+ Carbedazim spray follow combined spray of Urea+ Boric acid+ Zinc Sulphate+Lime,” he added.
