Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar Apr 2: Season’s first spray in apple orchards of Shopian area in South Kashmir has caused damage to apple as farmers have used non-recommended oil that is readily available in the market.
The TKS and other oil sprays that caused the damage has not been recommended by the Agriculture University Kashmir in their spray schedule which they issue for growers every year.
Mushaq Ahmad Malik, president of the Shopian Welfare Growers Association said that the spray caused major damage in the areas of Trenz, Zawoora, Tulhalan, Kachdora, Kapran, Keller, Cheke Haji Keegam, Keegam, Diaru, Chawan, Dampathri, Muqam Dinadu, Persipora, Batmaran and areas around Shopian town.
The Growers president Malik says that initial loss was 50 per cent but rains have come to rescue to the farmers but 25 per cent crop has suffered the damage.
Malik alleged that the sub-standard pesticides and fungicides are being sold in the market that is causing losses to the apple every year.
Malik demanded that the companies and Government should compensate the losses suffered by famers as both of are responsible for damage.
Abdul Hamid, senior Horticulture officer in district Shopain told Excelsior that a team of scientists and Horticulture department visited these areas where the orchard suffered damage due to oil spray and found that concentration schedule was not followed properly. He said that farmers didn’t use enough quantity of water that resulted in the damage.
Ghulam Mohammad Shah of the Enforcement wing said team of experts found that rising temperatures in last week of March were responsible for the damage. He said that due to rising temperatures the chemical was to be diluted more to avoid damage.
The Horticulture officer said that department is conducting market checking extensively.
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