SHOPIAN: After the recent rains and snowfall experts have called for better canopy management in fruit trees, as the need of hour.
They also called for better coordination among horticulture department and district based Krishi Vigyan Kandre (KVKs) to aware fruit growers about the practice.
Experts found that mismanagement in branches of fruit trees or canopy management is being considered the foremost reason for heaviest damages due to recent snow in Kashmir.
“More wood and lesser fruit buds managed Improperly amid green leaves is being considered the reason which kept loads of snow on apple trees and resulted into heavy damages,” said senior scientist and Head of KVK Kulgam, Dr Tasneem Mubark told Kashmir Reader.
He added that that canopy management and pollination management is the need of hour to save and boost the horticulture sector in Kashmir. “Modified ladder system in fruit tress is the only option to save fruit sector from such a huge damage, particularly at time of untimely snow in future.
Dr Mubark added that advanced pruning is also an option to save damages but saw injuries to trees should be avoided in advanced pruning,” he said adding that urea spray post fruit harvest is also an option to have timely leaf fall hence the damages can be avoided to more extent.
During recent snow the fruit trees were full of green leaves and amid them loads of snow got accumulated on the trees which resulted in more heavier damage. “Mixing fertilisers without soil test or imbalance in nutrition to trees leads to late or early leaf fall which can be avoided after proper soil test and expert advice on use of manures,” Dr Mubark added.
Already a Kashmir apple is facing many challenges with international markets its biggest opponent is China which produces 40 per cent of the world apple is being produced by China.
The time on quantity according to experts has gone and people should focus on both now. “A coronation between horticulture development department and district based KVKs to implement modern techniques and expertise advise among growers to meet the challenges faced by people affiliated to horticulture sector. The coordination will help us to enhance better fruit quality, keep disease at bay and good returns to sector,” an official posted in one of the KVKs in South Kashmir said.
He said that scientists of University is on disposal to help orchardists and it will be fruitfull after the two departments coordinate with each other.

Raashid Hassan