Growers in Kashmir Worried as Apple Production Dips by 40 Percent in the Valley
The apple production in Kashmir has gone down by almost 40 per cent, thus leaving the growers worried in the Valley.
Bashir Ahmad, President of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union (KVFGCDU) told that substandard pesticides have resulted in decrease in the annual apple production by 40 per cent in the Valley.
He added in this year only, the scab in apples due to the substandard and duplicate pesticides have damaged over 60 per cent of the production.
Ahmad said that prior to COVID outbreak, the orchards suffered huge losses due to the heavy rains. “Now, the pesticides available in markets wreaked havoc over the apple production as the quality was totally substandard,” he said.
As the markets remained mostly shut due to the restrictions imposed after COVID outbreak, t...