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| Apple growers of Kashmir troubled as scab engulfs their orchards | | If dry weather continues, there will be huge damage to crops, say officials | |
ISHTIYAQ AHMAD
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, Aug 22:Thousands of apple growers in Kashmir are worried as scab and other related infections have engulfed their orchards.
The farmers said that they are worried as rainfall deficit and scab infection have damaged crops in Kashmir.
Kashmir produces over 18 lakh metric tons of apples every year.
Farmers however said they fear over 50 percent damage to apples due to dry weather and scab disease.
Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union president, Bashir Ahmad Bashir said they fear heavy losses due to scab infection and rainfall deficit. “The scab infection has damaged our apple. We fear heavy losses to apples this season. Kashmir produces 22 crore boxes of apples annually but this season there will be a huge decrease in production due to rainfall deficit and scab infection,” Bashir said. “Reason for scab infection is substandard pesticides. There is no check on pesticides by the authorities,” he added.
Kashmir has two harvesting seasons for apples, one is April-May and another from ending September to November. Farmers also suffered heavy losses last year when Kashmir remained shut post abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.
Abdul Majeed Wani, a Saffron grower from Pampore said the Saffron fields have turned dry due to rainfall deficit.
“We are not able to dig our fields. The production of Saffron will depend upon the weather conditions in the next few weeks. If the dry continues, then there will be heavy damage to Saffron production. I can only pray that there is sufficient rainfall,” Wani said, who is also President of the Saffron Growers Association.
Saffron flowers are sensitive to vagaries of the weather. Its production depends on the weather conditions and the irrigation facilities.
The harvest season of Saffron begins from ending October. More than 16,000 families are associated with this crop production in the valley.
Kashmiri saffron is of superior quality because of the higher concentration of crocin, a carotenoid pigment that gives saffron its colour and medicinal value.
Each year, Kashmir produces 16 tonnes of Saffron. Saffron is cultivated in three districts: Pulwama, Srinagar and Budgam of the valley. Pampore, the township in Pulwama district produces the most.
Kashmir has recorded the highest temperature of over 36 degrees celcius in August, the first time in 40 years, which is believed to be due to global warming.
As per the Meteorological Department, in the last two months, Valley received deficit rainfall to the tune of 50 percent.
An official of Agriculture Department said if dry weather continues for the next few weeks, there will be huge damage to crops.
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