The Horticulture Department Kashmir has issued an advisory for orchardists across Kashmir to avoid any apprehensive damage due to early snowfall as has been witnessed in the past years.
An advisory issued by the horticulture Department Kashmir said that the valley has been witnessing snowfall in the month of November during the last many years resulting in damage to the unharvested fruit, breaking of limbs, uprooting of trees etc.
It said in order to avoid any such apprehensive loss, the orchardists of the valley are advised to follow the advisory and ensure the safety of fruit trees and reduction in inoculum of various diseases such as scab, alternaria etc.
It has advised the farmers to ensure speedy harvest of fruits.
“Harvesting of late varieties of fruit to be completed as soon as possible to avoid any damage due to early snowfall,” it said.
The advisory said that orchardists should maintain orchard sanitation by collecting fallen leaves, fallen and mummified fruits and dispose them properly by burying or composting.
“Spray the fruit trees and leaf litter with urea @4kg/100 litre of water to enhance the decomposition of leaves and disease inoculum,” it said.
In order to avoid possible damage by the early snowfall the advisory said that pruning of fruit trees should be started as soon as the leaves start yellowing.
“Apply white lead paint/bordeaux/chaubatia paste on the cut surfaces. Keep the limbs of the fruit tress supported to avoid any tilt or damage in case of any ensuing snowfall,” it said.
The advisory said that vigorous campaign against rodents to be continued through traditional methods and by using recommended rodenticides. “Clean the drainage channels of the orchards to avoid water logging,” it added.
The advisory also said that for any kind of further information the orchardists should contact the nearest Horticulture Development Officer or Chief Horticulture Officer.
