Samreen Wani
Srinagar: Widespread emergence of leaf scab in apple orchards, coupled by unreliable weather forecasts, are leaving fruit growers across Kashmir deeply worried about their future production and livelihoods.
Ziraat Times has received several messages from farmers from several districts like Baramulla (Sopore area), Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag asking for remedies for this situation.
Speaking to Ziraat Times, Bashir Ahmed Basheer, president New Kashmir Fruit Association said that several growers had called him about the emergence of the scab. The main reason behind this was that most growers skipped green-tip sprays.
“Many growers who skipped green-tip sprays were advised to spray any locally available systemic fungicides at pink bud stage, but, unfortunately, no sooner did they do this spray than it rains”, he said.
Experts say that after the rain stopped farmers were advised to repeat another fungicidial spray but they could not spray for various reasons associated with the lockdown and wet conditions.
“This is the reason of ongoing of apple leaf scab”, said Javaid Ahmad Dar, a PhD student studying plant pathology, from Pulwama.
Some experts are now recommending contact fungicidal spray, however, many farmers told Ziraat Times they are worried about the associated costs and continuous wet conditions.
Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, farmer from Budgam, said that he was deeply worried for the unreliable weather forecasts issued by the Met Department.
“The forecast issued by Met Department on April 9 said that there was no forecast of heavy precipitation for next one week to ten days, however, it has been raining since since quote off and on. It has made our condition more difficult”, said Aamir Lone, a houng grower who use technology to guide his family farming.
Farmers say frequent rains leave leaves wet and raising the chances of rapid development of scab.
Some experts say that consideting that it is a flowering stage it is very difficult to spray systemic fungicides at this satge because fertilization is under process, and there are also some chances of “phytoxicity.”
While some experts suggest use of Propineb 70WP, Mancozeb 75WP and Zineb 75WP, others feel this may not help.at this stage.
“The above mentioned fungicides will stop further development of leaf scab and they kill the germ tubes of venturia inaequalis”, said one field expert at Horticulture Department.
