Amid the prediction of wet weather in the first week of November, apple growers in Kashmir are caught in a deep sea as they are worried that they can’t pick apples and carry out pruning simultaneously.
Growers from different areas of Kashmir, mainly Shopian, told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that their 30-40 percent produce is still on trees and it is impossible to completely pick 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.
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 can we 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.
Meteorological centre Srinagar has predicted three Western disturbances are likely to hit JK from October 31 to 08 Nov which can bring widespread rain/snow.
In an advisory MeT has advised farmers to harvest their agricultural products, fruits etc which are prone to snowfall and low temperature.
They advised them to carry out necessary pruning of trees and drain out excess water from orchards—(KNO)