Scab outbreak hits South Kashmir apple orchards after incessant rains, growers fear heavy losses

Shopian, Aug 23: An outbreak of apple scab has struck orchards across South Kashmir, adding to the worries of growers already grappling with a series of pest attacks this season.

The fungal disease has been reported from both high-altitude orchards and low-lying areas of Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag districts, following nearly two weeks of uninterrupted rainfall.

Apple scab, caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis, leaves blackish-brown lesions on leaves and fruit. Once the disease spreads, it reduces the fruit’s quality, makes it prone to rotting during storage, and drastically lowers its market value.

“The outbreak is particularly severe in orchards where no fungicidal sprays were applied during the past month,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a grower from Shopian who cultivates apples on 15 kanals. “If scab attacks at this stage, when fruit is sizing up, the damage is irreversible. Fruit with black spots is either rejected in mandis outside Kashmir or sold at throwaway prices.”

Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology at SKUAST-K, Dr. Waseem Dar, confirmed that the Valley is witnessing a secondary spread of scab. He advised orchardists to immediately spray fungicides like Propineb and Mancozeb to contain further damage.

“The prolonged wet spell has created highly favourable conditions for fungal infections. Unless farmers act swiftly, the outbreak could worsen in the coming weeks,” Dr. Dar said.

He explained that early-season fungicide schedules had helped suppress the primary infection in spring, but the recent rains created conditions for a fresh wave of secondary spread.

The current scab outbreak comes close on the heels of Alternaria leaf blotch and necrotic leaf blotch, which affected orchards last month amid intermittent rainfall, high humidity and temperature fluctuations. The back-to-back diseases, growers say, are mounting pressure on trees just weeks before harvest, particularly in Shopian, known as the apple bowl of Kashmir.

“Scab is one of the most dreaded diseases for us. In a year when production is otherwise good, scab can ruin the market prospects of the entire crop,” said Abdul Rashid, a grower from Pulwama.

Kashmir produces between 20 and 22 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, contributing over 75% of India’s total output. Apple cultivation directly supports around 3.5 million people in the Valley, making it the backbone of the rural economy.

Fruit traders warn that the unchecked spread of scab could lead to significant downgrading of fruit from premium “A grade” to “B or C grade.” “Traditional varieties like Red Delicious and Kulu are most vulnerable. Once downgraded, the price falls by 40–60%, which could mean crores in losses for growers,” said Tariq Ahmad, a trader from Anantnag.

Farmers are now urging authorities to step in with immediate advisory campaigns, subsidised fungicides, and technical support. “The government needs to mobilise field staff quickly to guide farmers. Left to themselves, many small orchardists won’t be able to manage the disease on time,” said Bashir Ahmad, an orchardist from Kulgam.

With harvesting due to begin in a month, growers fear the scab outbreak, if not contained immediately, could deal a crippling blow to Kashmir’s apple industry—already struggling with declining exports, rising input costs and fluctuating prices.