Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Apr 12: In wake of the deficient rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir in the past over one month, the experts here have suggested the farmers to take all the necessary steps to ensure that their crops are not damaged, which would lead to huge losses to them.
The orchardists have been advised to take all the necessary measures for both the crops including standing crops as well as Kharif crops.
A top official in the Agriculture department said that so far there has been no damage to the crops due to the deficient rainfall, but still the advisory has been issued to ensure there is no damage to the crops in case the dry spell persists.
A meeting of experts was held recently under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) to formulate advisory for agriculture and Horticulture in view of current prevailing above normal temperatures and rainfall deficit.
“For oil seeds (Mustard), stage Siliquae (Pod) formation, light irrigation in case of availability of irrigation, in case of showers no irrigation is required,” the document, a copy of which lies with KNO reads, adding that for Oat in Vegetative stage apply light irrigation if available application of top dose of nitrogen @4.25kg/kanal where sufficient rainfall is received or irrigation is available and for flower initiation stage, the orchardists have been asked to apply light irrigation on priority.
Wheat in stage Booting Flowering, apply zinc ® 2kg in 400 lts of water for 20 kanals or Boron @ 600gm in 400lts of water for 20 kanals, it said, adding that for peas in stage flowering/Pod formation, the orchardists have been asked to wait for shower or give light irrigation if available weeds to be cut and put in place as mulch.
For vegetable crops, cole crops and root crops in stage flowering /seed/Formation, they have been asked to do light irrigation.
For horticultural crops (Apple) in Petal fall stage, the growers have been asked to start drip irrigation in HDP for half an hour in morning and evening hours Organic Mulching of individual trees, spraying of fungicide at Petal fall stage before rains or immediately after rains and also apply calcium chloride 0.3% in orchards at fruit let stage.
