Srinagar: Wet weather prediction for the first week of November has triggered panic among the apple growers in Kashmir as it was the time for harvesting but instead they are bracing up for pruning.
Growers from different areas of Kashmir, especially from south Kashmir’s Shopian said that their 30-40 percent production is still on trees and it is impossible to harvest the fruit within two or three days.
Abdul Rashid an orchardist from Ramnagri area of Shopian said that most of the apples in the area are still on trees and even some families have started apple picking just a few days ago.
He said that the government has issued an advisory to complete the harvesting process and carry out the pruning process at the earliest which is impossible.
Earlier, the metrological department suggest pruning to fruit farmers as the weather predicts snowfall in the first month of November, Last year also, untimely snowfall damaged the apple trees across south Kashmir.
Orchardists said that about 40 percent of the produce is on trees as this year the market has remained very down and some people were waiting till the demand of the apple will increase.
They said usually in the upper parts, this is the peak apple picking season and most of the produce is still on trees and snowfall in coming days can prove disastrous.
“When apple picking hasn’t been completed how we can start pruning,” they said, adding, snowfall at this time, even if it is light, would bring havoc upon fruit trees.
“Leaves are as green as in June and plenty of fruit is yet to be plucked. At most of the places people have put the fruit on the ground in orchards, so prayers are the only way to save us,” they said.
It is pertinent to mention that the backbone of Kashmir economy, the apple industry has been facing troubles since 2019.
(KNO)
