Pulwama, Jan 08 : Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology Kashmir ( SKUAST-K) has installed around 20 automatic weather stations in different districts across Kashmir which will help in effective management of disease and pests in apples.
The automatic weather stations have been installed under supervision of Dr Tariq Rasool, Associate Professor at Division of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology Kashmir.
Dr Rasool informed Rising Kashmir that two weather stations have been installed in each of the 10 districts of Kashmir division.
He said that under the HDAP project on minimisation of pesticide use in agriculture they aim at preparing a forecasting system for disease and pests in apples.
The Senior Scientist revealed that this forecasting system, also known as decision support system, is a requirement for management of disease and pests in apples.
He informed that logging in to a particular weather station will enable in forecasting of disease and pests of that area.
“We are integrating the system by developing necessary models and data,” he said, adding that fabricating a forecasting system is very complex and requires a lot of experience and effort.
Dr Rasool, who has already worked on a similar model prepared for the Netherlands, is hopeful of getting the decision support system ready by next year.
He said that once the system becomes operational apple orchardists in Kashmir will get real time need based weather advisory on the basis of which they will decide whether they have to spray a particular pesticides or not.
“ The system will generate automatic forecasting,” he said, adding that besides effective management of apple disease the system will help in judicious utilisation of pesticides.
He said that they aim at making this forecasting system user friendly by connecting it with an app so that a grower can access the advisory by logging into the app.
The senior scientist revealed that they will be integrating virtual weather stations with the system provided that they found them accurate without any errors.
“ Virtual weather stations are cost effective and easy to establish,” he said.
He also said that SKUAST-K’s decision support system will have integration options for big growers or other interested private persons who wish to have their own weather stations.
