Unusual warm weather worries orchardists

The exceptional increase in the day temperature has worried the farming community in the Valley.
As a result of the unusual increase in maximum temperature, the apple farmers across Kashmir have started spraying tree oil before schedule.
The Horticulture Department has, however, issued advisories and urged the orchardists not to spray tree oil or other pesticides before schedule.
The plains in the Kashmir valley are experiencing exceptionally high day temperature.
In Srinagar and other parts of the Valley, the day temperature has remained 20°C and above in the past week, which was almost 10 degrees hotter than the normal temperature at this time of the year.
“This year, the farming activity has resumed almost two weeks before schedule. With warmer days, many people are spraying tree oil in their apple orchards,” said Ghulam Rasool, an apple grower from north Kashmir.
He said the dry winter coupled with less snowfall and now the exceptionally high day temperature was going to adversely affect the horticulture produce.
“There is early onset of budding apple varieties, almond and cherry, which is not a good sign,” he added.
However, the Horticulture Department has warned the orchardists to desist from spraying tree oil and other pesticides before schedule and wait for the proper budding stage.
“Due to the increase in temperature in the past week, many orchardists are concerned and are spraying tree oil in their orchards, which is undue. As per the recommendation of the agriculture university, people are advised to start spraying tree oil at the budding stage and refrain from early spraying,” reads an advisory issued by the Horticulture Department in various local dailies.
Experts said there was no need to worry, adding the persistent warm temperature may advance the flowering stage in apple and other temperate fruits.
“As per our calculation, apple has already got the required 1,400 hours of chilling temperature during the winter, which is needed for proper flowering. However, slightly warm days may advance flowering in apple,” said Prof Fayaz Ahmad Banday, who heads the Division of Fruit Sciences at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir.
Banday, however, warned that the exceptionally high temperature this season may lead to a change in the disease scenario and the region may witness increased incidences of alternaria disease and also a change in the pest scenario.
“The dry and warm weather, however, may lower the incidence of scab in apple,” he added.