Srinagar, Apr 29: Fruit growers in Kashmir are much worried today due to the erratic weather conditions for the last few weeks.
Growers from various parts of Kashmir told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the livelihood of around 50 percent of the population, who are directly dependent on the horticulture sector, is under threat as erratic weather conditions is likely to trigger various diseases in their orchards.
Muhammad Abbas, a fruit grower from Shopian, said that erratic weather conditions will definitely lead to different diseases in orchards and will impact the quality of the fruit as well.
He said that these rainy weather conditions are also affecting the health of leaves of fruit trees, which, in turn, is impacting their produce.
Growers are also increasingly concerned that the horticulture sector is under threat due to climate change for the last several years.
They also worry that despite following the official spray schedule in letter and spirit, new diseases are popping up every year due to which farmers are often required to invest in costly agro chemicals leading to higher production costs.
“Every year we have to fight new challenges and there is a need now to implement the crop insurance scheme, which the government has already announced in principle,” they said.
Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Union told KNO that there is a need that the government must implement crop insurance schemes so that growers won’t suffer every year.
He said that they have met higher officials regarding this issue and have got assurance about the implementation of the scheme.
—(KNO)
