Abnormal climate diseases apple orchards of Kashmir ByDANISH ZARGAR Published: Sat, 24 August 2013 10:22PM SRINAGAR: The record-breaking heat followed by flood-threatening rains have affected the apple orchards of the Kashmir Valley, according to an official survey. The survey by a team of scientists and experts from SK University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology(SKUAST) has revealed that orchards across the Valley have become infested with Alternaria Leaf Blotch—a pathogenic fungal disease that spreads at a fast rate. The disease is said to have mostly affected the Red Delicious and Kulu Delicious varieties of apple. A minor incidence of Necrotic Leaf Blotch too has been found on Golden Delicious variety of the prized fruit. “We received reports from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and farmers about the spread of Alternaria in the orchards. We immediately sent a team of pathologists and soil expertsfor a field survey that confirmed the spread of disease,” Dr F A Banday, Associate Director Extension (Agriculture) at SKUAST told Kashmir Reader on Friday. While the survey was conducted onlyin Pulwama district, the disease has spread to Valley’s most apple producing districts. These include north Kashmir’s Baramulla district—Kashmir’s apple town Sopore falls in the district, and Shopian and Anantnag in the south. “The problem is same everywhere,” Dr Banday said. The Valley had a record breaking summer this year with mercury rising to 35.4 degree Celsius in July—highest in past seven years. The scorching, dry spell ended only recently with incessant rainfall taking the water levels in Sindh and Jhelum rivers to flood threatening levels. The flood threat persisted in Sindh till last week. “This stressful climate is the reason behind disease in the orchards,” Dr Banday said. “First there was intenseheat that burnt the flowers and leaves, and then incessant rainfall hit the orchards creating optimum conditions for the diseases.” The Directorate of Extension Education, SKUAST, the Department of Horticulture and KVKs have started a mass-awareness programme in the apple producing districts for treatment of the disease.The farmers have been prescribed pesticides to be sprayed over the orchards for control of the “known disease”. “Immediately after the survey, we recommended remedial measures to the farmers. Apart from other means of mass awareness, KVKs are getting in touch with the farmers. Good thing is Alternaria is a known diseaseso, we are sure we can arrest its spread,” Dr Banday said. However, the disease is likely to delay the harvest of apple, which is amajor horticulture product exported to outside states. “The farmers will have to strictly follow prescriptions for now. Afterwards, they will have to concentrate on treatment of leaves. It will delay the harvest,” Dr Banday said, hoping that there may be no loss of the produce.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 03:47:42 +0000
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