With the recent spate of rains causing concern among orchardists, experts from SKUAST Srinagar have issued an advisory, urging orchardists to take immediate action to protect their orchards from potential diseases, particularly scab.
Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr Tariq Rasool, a pathologist at SKUAST Srinagar, said it is important for orchardists to spray their orchards promptly, especially if they haven’t done so before the recent rains. “Those who have already sprayed their orchards before the rains that they are safe and need not repeat the process,” he said.
However, Dr Tariq said it is necessary for those who haven’t sprayed their orchards to take action immediately to mitigate the risk of diseases.
He advised orchardists to conduct spraying in the morning to allow the spray to dry before dusk, cautioning against leaving pesticide/fungicide residues on leaves for extended periods in wet conditions, which could lead to rusting.
If pesticide and fungicide remain on leaves for a longer time in wet conditions or if different sprays are mixed, it may lead to rusting,” Dr Rasool said, adding, “There are some growers who have been regularly facing issues of fruit set and fruit fall as well and despite working on different techniques they have failed to get desired results.”
Addressing concerns of growers facing issues such as fruit set and fruit fall, Dr Tariq suggested transitioning to high-density plantation, citing its efficacy in mitigating such problems.
Dr Irfan, another scientist from SKUAST, said it is important to follow department guidelines at every stage to achieve desired results.
“The orchardists must adhere to advisories and guidelines issued by SKUAST. Doing so would enable them to produce quality fruit without encountering significant problems,” he said.
The advisory comes as a proactive measure to assist orchardists in safeguarding their livelihoods and ensuring the productivity and quality of their produce amidst challenging weather conditions—(KNO)
