Rains inundate Valley,may damage fruits

J-K Fruit Growers and Dealers Association president Ghulam Rasool Bhat said spring is always crucial for the growers and it is the favourable temperature that decide the fruit harvest in the months to come.

“The initial favourable climate resulted in good flowering in the orchards. But continuous rainfall and the consequent decline in temperature pose serious threat to the orchards across Kashmir,” he said while hoping that if weather conditions improve soon the losses would be insignificant.

The J-K Horticulture Department,too,is worried over the sudden fluctuations in the temperature. In fact,the field staff of the department is touring different orchards in order to guide the growers on bringing down the losses. “We are worried about the continuous rainfall. We are,therefore,asking growers to take some preventive measures to help save the flower buds of the fruit plants,” said Director,Horticulture,M S Qasba. “We have already issued special instructions through various mediums of mass communication to help growers safeguard the fruit-bearing orchards.”

The director said the recent heavy rainfall has resulted in accumulation of excess water in fruit zones. “We fear that frost injury to flowers could lessen the yield further,” he said.

Fruit,being Kashmir’s biggest industry,provides direct or indirect livelihood to nearly three million people. Last year,fruits worth Rs 2,000 crore were exported from Kashmir.