Growers heave sigh of relief as rains likely to enhance apple colour

Shopian, Aug 18: Rains across Jammu and Kashmir have brought relief to apple growers, with showers expected to improve the colour of the fruit.

Farmers said the rains arrived at a crucial stage, helping apples develop a red blush, a key factor in attracting higher market prices.

“Rain at this stage is a blessing for us. The colour of apples improves significantly with good moisture and cooler weather conditions,” said Tariq Ahmad Mir, an orchardist from south Kashmir’s Shopian district, which is known for producing top-tier apples.

As most apple farms in Kashmir are rain-fed, the downpour has alleviated concerns about soil moisture, reducing the need for irrigation and supporting crop growth.

“In the absence of adequate rain, farmers have to rely on manual irrigation, which is not possible in most areas,” Mir said, adding that the irrigation also pushed up input costs.

Apple farming is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, contributing more than 8% to the region’s gross domestic product. The Valley produces 2.5 to 2.6 million tonnes of apples annually, accounting for about 75% of the country’s total output. Nearly 3.5 million people are directly or indirectly dependent on the industry.

Many growers also expect the rains to curb the growth of different pests.

“The rains will also do away with many pests attacking orchards in this season,” said Mir.

Dr Waseem, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), said the showers would help enhance fruit colour, but added that pest populations would decline only if temperatures drop below 25 degrees Celsius.

He warned that prolonged humidity could also trigger diseases such as Alternaria.

While the rainfall benefits traditional orchards, it could hurt high-density apple varieties already being harvested.

“The mature varieties like Gala could develop cracks if the rains continue for a few more days,” said Mohammad Ashraf Wani, president of the Fruit Mandi in Shopian.