Apple Leaf Miner disease: Kashmir apple farmers worry for losses, govt says no need for panic

16 June 2023

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SRINAGAR, JUNE 16: Many farmers in Kashmir today, especially from southern districts of Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam are reeling under the spread of a new disease in their apple farms, called Apple Leaf Miner.

Leaf miner disease is a common problem in apple trees, caused by the larvae of a moth. The larvae feed on the leaves, creating tunnels that weaken the leaves and can eventually kill them. This can lead to reduced fruit production and quality.

The pest was first reported during the year 2021 from Zainapora and other adjoining areas of district Shopian and can be identified by circular necrotic blotches on apple leaf like Alternaria Leaf spot, technical specialists say. During high pest incidence the leaf shows multi spots especially in heavily infested pockets, and trees show a burnt appearance from a distance.

This spread impacts leaf health, thereby impacting nourishment of the tree and the apple fruit itself. Consequently, despite significant investment in agro chemicals, time and effort, many farmers fear they may experience deep financial loss.

The surveys lately conducted by SKUAST-Kashmir and Department of Horticulture revealed that the pest infestation is prevalent in the orchards of some villages of district Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag and Pulwama. The economic threshold level of blotch leaf miner is 0.5 to 1 blotch/leaf. Dispersal of blotch leafminer to new areas takes place through infested fruits, Bud/graft wood and plant material.

While that may sound too technical, that, in common parlance, would mean the disease is spreading through multiple ways, especially as planting material travels from one place to another.

In order to ensure the containment of any further resurgence and to reduce the intensity of the pest, Financial Commissioner/ Additional Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo has already instructed SKUAST-K and Department of Horticulture, Kashmir for working out the strategy of its management and to delineate the areas into various infestation zones, such as red, yellow and green depending upon the severity of the infestation, so that the pest can be efficiently managed.

Following the instructions, the Department of Horticulture, Kashmir and SKUAST-K have initiated a programme and strategy of damage assessment and management of the pest. The strategy involves not only identification of pest hot spots, but also its possible spread channels, its containment and eradication measures and to prevent an imminent outbreak.

“In this respect all the viable means and methods both physical and IT enabled will be put in place. SKUAST-K has already developed google form for receiving the responses from various stakeholders, particularly orchardists regarding the presence and severity of the pest. So far 10,764 responses were received through the google form”, an official said.

This time also teams of experts are in the orchards of district Kulgam, Shopian and Budgam to provide on the spot advisory and awareness regarding management of the pest to the orchardists. One of the teams visiting District Shopian and Kulgam is being led by Joint Director Horticulture, Kashmir Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, officials added.

Farmers are, however, worried that with the passage of every day, and no remedial solution in sight, their fruit crops could be irretrievably damaged.

The results of management strategies are encouraging, as the infestation of Leaf Blotch Miner in the ACDH, Zainapora Shopian has been brought down from 90% during the year 2021 to 10% during current year, the official said

“The orchardists are requested not to panic and to follow the ad hoc advisory framed by SKUAST-K and also published by the Department of Horticulture, Kashmir in letter and spirit. By adopting cooperative, integrated and sustained approach we will be able to eradicate the pest”, the official added.