Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Apr 29: Fruit growers in Kashmir are much worried due to the erratic weather conditions for the last few weeks.
Growers from various parts of Kashmir said that the livelihood of around 50 percent of the population who are directly dependent on the horticulture sector is under threat as erratic weather conditions will trigger diseases in their orchards.
Muhammad Abbas, a fruit grower from Shopian, said that erratic weather conditions will definitely lead to different diseases in orchards and will impact the quality of the fruit as well.
He said that these rainy weather conditions are also putting an impact on leaves of fruit trees which in turn is impacting their produce.
Growers said that the horticulture sector is under threat due to climate change for the last several years.
They further added that despite following the spray schedule in letter and spirit, new diseases are coming to the fore every year due to which farmers are very much worried.
“Every year we have to fight new challenges and there is a need to implement a crop insurance scheme,” they said.
Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Union told KNO that there is a need that the government must implement crop insurance schemes so that growers won’t suffer every year.
He said that they have met higher officials regarding this issue and have got assurance about implementation of the scheme.
