SRINAGAR: With the diversification of crops as well as the climate driven changes in pest dynamics, some areas of Kashmir valley especially the districts of south Kashmir, have witnessed the emergence of a new insect pest namely Apple Leaf Blotch Miner.

The pest was reported during the year 2021 from Zainapora and other adjoining areas of district Shopian and can be identified by circular necrotic blotches on apple leaf like Alternaria Leaf spot. During high pest incidence the leaf shows multi spots especially in heavily infested pockets, and trees show a burnt appearance from a distance. The surveys conducted by SKUAST-K and Department of Horticulture revealed that the pest infestation is prevalent in the orchards of some villages of district Shopian, Kulgam, An-antnag and Pulwama.

The eco-nomic threshold level of blotch leaf miner is 0.5 to 1 blotch/leaf. Dispersal of blotch leafminer to new areas takes place through infested fruits, Bud/graft wood and plant material. In order to ensure the contain-ment of any further resurgence and to reduce the intensity of the pest, Financial Commis-sioner/ Additional Chief Sec-retary, Atal Dulloo has already instructed SKUAST-K and Department of Horticulture, Kashmir for working out the strategy of its management and to delineate the areas into various infestation zones, such as red, yellow and green depending upon the severity of the infestation, so that the pest can be efficiently managed. Following the instructions, the Department of Horticulture, Kashmir and SKUAST-K proactively initiated a programme and strategy of damage assess-ment and management of the pest. The strategy involves not only identification of pest hot spots, but also its possible spread channels, its contain-ment and eradication measures and to prevent an imminent out-break. In this respect all the viable means and methods both physi-cal and IT enabled will be put in place.

SKUAST-K has already developed google form for rereiving the responses from vari-ous stakeholders, particularly orchardists regarding the pres-ence and severity of the pest. So far 10,764 responses were re-ceived through the google form. The department of Horticulture and SKUAST-K are pre-emptively following the situation and are leaving no stone unturned to eradicate the pest. The teams of officers from Department of Horticulture, Kashmir and SKUAST-K scientists are regularly visiting the infest-ed areas. This time also teams of experts are in the orchards of district Kulgam, Shopian and Budgam to provide on the spot advi-sory and awareness regarding management of the pest to the orchardists. One of the teams visiting District Shopian and Kulgam is being led by Joint Director Horticulture, Kashmir Zahoor Ahmad Bhat. All types of measures are be-ing taken to curb the infestation. T

here is no shortage of pesticides that are required for the management of pests as confirmed from Director Ag-riculture, Kashmir Controller Pesticides. The department of Horticulture, Kasmir, SKUAST-K and Director Agriculture, Controller pesticides are work-ing in cohesion and coordina-tion to control the pest. This is not the first time that the Orchardists of the valley are confronting the infesta-tion. Some decades back scab had also attained the alarming situation, but through coopera-tion and coordination of all the stakeholders viz, the depart-ment of Horticulture, Kashmir, SKUAST-K and the orchardists, we were able to manage the situation.

This pest will also be brought under control through the integrated and coopera-tive approach. The results of management strategies are en-couraging, as the infestation of Leaf Blotch Miner in the ACDH, Zainapora Shopian has been brought down from 90% during the year 2021 to 10% during cur-rent year. The orchardists are request-ed not to panic and to follow the ad hoc advisory framed by SKUAST-K and also published by the Department of Horti-culture, Kashmir in letter and spirit. By adopting cooperative, integrated and sustained approach we will be able to eradicate the pest.

KR Desk