Srinagar: In the wake of heavy hailstorms and thunderstorms that struck several parts of the Kashmir Valley on April 18 and 19, the Directorate of Horticulture, Kashmir has issued a detailed advisory for orchardists to mitigate the damage to fruit crops, particularly apple, pear, plum, peach, and apricot trees.
According to reports received from multiple districts, the unseasonal hail has caused significant injury to fruit trees and crops, raising concerns over potential disease outbreaks if preventive measures are not taken promptly.
Recommended Immediate Measures for Apple and Pear Orchards
Orchardists are advised to carry out the following actions without delay:
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Fungicide Spray Options (choose one):
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Zineb 68% + Hexaconazole 4% (72 WP) @125g per 100 liters of water
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Tubeconazole (6.7%) + Captan (26.9%) 33.6SC @250 ml per 100 liters of water
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Fluxapyroxad 250g + Pyraclostrobin 250g (500 SC) @20 ml per 100 liters of water
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Three Days Later: Apply Urea @ 0.2% (200g per 100 liters of water)
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Sanitation Step: Remove all fallen fruits, fruitlets, blooms, and leaves from the orchards to reduce infection risks.
For Plum, Peach, and Apricot Orchards
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Fungicide Options (choose one):
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Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% (75 WP) @250g per 100 liters of water
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Thiophanate Methyl 70WP @50g per 100 liters of water
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Three Days Later: Apply Urea @ 0.2%
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Sanitation Step: Similarly, remove fallen fruits, fruitlets, and leaves from the orchards immediately.
