Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Sep 21: Climate change that is a long term shift in patterns of temperature and weather has affected quality and even quantity of the fruit crop in Kashmir, experts said.
Due to the heat wave, the farmers whose livelihood is dependent on the horticulture are very much worried as they are unable to understand what to do at what time.
Experts believe that the effects of climate change are likely to increase in the coming time and there is a need to take adaptability measures to lower the effect of climate change.
Dr Aamir Hussian Bhat, a lecturer of Environmental Science at GDC Hadipora Baramulla said that due to climate change the chances of damage to crops due to untimely snowfall, hailstorm, cloudburst, heavy rains have increased thereby effecting the crop. He said that Kashmir being a mountainous area is vulnerable and climate change had created instability as nothing follows any symmetrical pattern and we are witnessing everything is going in reverse manner here as we see weather of winter of summer and vice versa.
He said that people are themselves responsible for it as they are resorted to illegal mining, cutting of forests and other things which in turn has resulted in climate change which is effecting our crops and fruits.
Dr Tariq Rasool Assistant Professor Fruit Pathology SKUAST said that everything has both positive and negative impacts and spring and summer seasons are vital for Apple.
If spring will be more wet, chances of scab remain high and market of apple remains down and if spring remains dry, chances of scab and other diseases remain less he said, adding that if weather remains wet in summer, it leads to Alterneria especially in low altitude areas which effects fruit quality while if it remains dry fruit quality gets disturb but chances of diseases remains less but it increases insect population.
He said that drip irrigation facilities in dry weather conditions besides mulching can prove fruitful for growers.
