Unseasonal warmth puts apple growers on tenterhooks

Shopian, Jan 27: A significant rise in day temperature during ‘Chillai Kalan’, the harshest period of winter, has raised concerns among the apple farmers in Kashmir.

On Saturday, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 14.6 degrees Celsius, which was 7.5 degrees above normal.

The farmers fear that a sudden rise in temperatures might spur early flowering, which if followed by a snowfall will prove catastrophic for the apple orchards.

Additionally, the unusual warmer weather conditions could lead to early pest infestations and reduce the quality of crop.

Tariq Ahmad Mir, a well-heeled apple orchardist from Shopian said that premature flowering due to soaring temperatures had been a common occurrence, particularly in the areas like Shopian, affecting yield.

"The area is known for heavy snowfall and frosty winters. A rise in temperature in this area is rather worrying", he said.

Mir said that following the premature flowering, a light snowfall could spell a doom for the crop. In Shopian district, more than 90 percent of people rely directly or indirectly on the apple sector for their livelihood.

Similarly, in neighbouring Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag districts, a large chunk of population earn their livelihood through apple cultivation.

The unusual change in weather patterns have become a cause of worry for thousands of apple cultivators across these apple-rich areas. Raashid Ahmad, a fruit grower from Pulwama said that insufficient snowfall could result in a water crisis during forthcoming summers.

"If the current dry weather conditions persist, the entire irrigation system will be disrupted. It will not only affect the apple crop, but also other crops as well", he said.

Last year, Jammu and Kashmir experienced 35 percent rain deficit from June 1 to September 25.

Against a normal precipitation of 542.7 mm, J&K recorded 352.7 mm.

The dry weather conditions resulted in high incidence of pests like Leaf Miner, Green Aphid and Woolly Aphid.

However, alleviating the fears of farmers, Dr Tariq Rasool, Associate Professor at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir said that the Valley had witnessed several warmer winters in the past and their impact on the crop was minimal.

"It is a good snowfall that is crucial for a good yield ", he added.