Srinagar, May 26: As multiple districts of the Kashmir Valley were struck by a heavy hailstorm in the afternoon of 25th, May, 2023, the unexpected natural calamity has resulted in widespread damage to fruit crops, leading to concerns for the horticultural community.
According to Horticulture Department, Director G. R. Mir (JKAS), Director, responded to the situation by conducting an extensive tour of the affected areas. He personally visited villages of District Baramulla viz. Panzalla, Kangroosa, Chatoosa, Dazna and villages of District Kupwra viz. Harri, Trehgam, Shumnag, Gugloosa and Awoora to assess the extent of the damage caused by the hailstorm, with a particular focus on the severely affected regions of Rafiabad and Trehgam.
Simultaneously, the Joint Director Horticulture, Kashmir Z.A. Bhat, also visited District Budgam to evaluate the impact on fruit crops in that area.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, on-spot instructions and advisories were also promptly issued by the authorities, and all the district officers alongwith their field staff were specifically directed by the Head of the Department to meticulously calculate the extent of the damage caused to the fruit crops.
Further, the immediate advisory issued to mitigate the hailstorm damage is replicated below:
Apple/Pear:
Zineb 68% + Hexaconazole 4% 72 WP @100g/100lts of water OR
Tubeconazole (6.7%) +Captan (26.9)33.6SC @250 mls/100 lts. of water OR
Fluxapyroxad 250g + Pyraclostrobin 250g 500 SC @20mls/100lts of water.
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.
Plum/Peach/Apricot:
Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% 75 WP @250g/100 lts of water OR
Thiophanate Methyl 70WP @50g/100lts of water.
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.
