Srinagar, May 26: The Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir on Friday issued an advisory for the orchardist following heavy hailstorm coupled with thunderstorm that has damaged fruit crops/trees in different areas of Kashmir on Thursday.
“In various areas of the valley, there has been heavy hailstorm coupled with thunderstorm on May 25, 2023 and the reports of damage to fruit crops/trees have been received from different districts,” the advisory said.
The advisory advised orchardists to follow the recommendations in mitigating the effects of hailstorm and prevent/eradicate chances of infection of various diseases in their orchards.
Regarding apple/pear, the advisory said that the hail-affected orchards may be immediately sprayed with fungicides like Zineb plus Hexaconazol or Tubeconazole plus Captan or Fluxapyroxad plus Pyraclostrobin.
“After a gap of three days, spray Urea @ 0.2% (200 gms per 100 liters of water). Remove the fallen fruits and leaves from the orchards immediately,” the advisory said.
Regarding plum/peach/apricot it suggested spraying Carbendazim plus Mancozeb or Thiophanate Methyl. “After a gap of 3 days, spray Urea @ 0.2% (200 gms per 100 liters of water). Remove the fallen fruits and leaves from the orchards immediately,” the advisory said.
On Thursday afternoon, hailstorm and thunderstorm hit crops and trees in Budgam, Kupwara, Anantnag, Baramulla and other areas with the advisory asking farmers for taking precautionary measures to avoid any loss to the orchards.
Subject Matter Specialist, Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir, Mohd Amin Bhat said the department has taken up the assessment of the damage caused to the crops and trees.
“All the teams have visited the teams and they have taken the on ground assessment of the damage caused by the hailstorm and thunderstorm,” he said.
