From diseases to pests, and dry spells to heavy rainfall, the orchards of Kashmir are a constant battlefield for the growers, who rely on their expertise and resilience to overcome the challenges and ensure a successful harvest

In the orchards of Kashmir, where apple growers stand as guardians of their crop, a battle is fought between growers and nature’s fury round the clock, throughout the year. Each season, growers face a rollercoaster of emotions –from tears of rain to the fiery blaze of the sun, from pellets of hailstorm to devastating winds. The growers pour their hearts into the land, nurturing each tree with unwavering passion. The orchards whisper tales of resilience and hope, painting a vivid picture of the human spirit’s triumph over the elements.
The apple growers of Kashmir not only face the challenges of rain and drought but also combat a diverse array of diseases and pests that target their apple plants. These stealthy adversaries pose a constant threat to the orchards, requiring the farmers to be ever vigilant. Whether it’s insidious diseases taking advantage of the wet conditions or relentless pests thriving in the dry spells, the growers navigate a complex battlefield to protect their precious harvest. Each season brings a new chapter in this ongoing battle, where the resilience and expertise of the farmers are put to the test against nature’s relentless assault.
In yesteryears, apple growers could manage with just a few fungicides to fend off diseases. But now, things have changed. It’s not as easy as before. Now a minimum of 15 sprays are necessary to ensure a crop free from these resilient pests. What used to be a simple task has turned into a more complex battle for a pest-free harvest.
Adding salt to the injury of growers, the supply of substandard pesticides has further complicated this battle. With pests already becoming resistant to traditional pesticides, the ineffectiveness of subpar chemicals only exacerbates the challenges faced by apple growers.
The last couple of years have been a real struggle. Some new pests like leaf miners, aphids, etc have wreaked havoc on the orchards. These insects are no pushovers. They’ve shown resistance to heavy hitters like thiamethoxam, lambda-cyhalothrin, Thiocloprid, Cypermethrin, etc. Every grower in Kashmir has sprayed at least 3 to 4 strong insecticides to protect against these insects but the pests are all alive in Kashmir orchards. This can be attributed to substandard pesticides or adverse weather conditions.
It’s like a never-ending saga for apple growers. When rains pour down continuously, a lot of diseases creep in. And when the dry weather rolls in, it brings along a different group of diseases to tackle. It’s a constant battle against nature’s curveballs, with each season presenting its unique challenges. This highlights the complexity and variability of managing apple orchards.
Some common and most frightening diseases in the apple industry are:
1) Apple Scab: This is the most common and most devastating disease faced by the Kashmir Apple Industry. It is caused by persistent rains. Apple scab begins in spring with small olive green to black spots on the leaves. The spots can affect the entire leaf, causing it to turn brown and fall off. Apple scab creates slightly raised black spots on fruits. It can be prevented by giving a fungicidal cover to your orchards before rains.
2) Powdery Mildew: This type of disease is caused by prolonged dry spells. Powdery mildew is present when grey-white powdery patches develop on new shoots and leaves. New growth is usually stunted, curled, or distorted on a plant with powdery mildew. Powdery Mildew is more prevalent in Gala Varieties than in Delicious Varieties. It can be prevented by spraying Difenoconazole, myclobutanil, etc like fungicides
3) Collar Rot and Root Rot: This disease is caused by excessive rains and waterlogging. Several species of Phytophthora are responsible for it. When the scion portion of the trunk is affected, the disease is called collar rot. Root rot occurs when the fungus attacks roots away from the crown area. This can be prevented by proper water management. Carbandism and Mancozeb application greatly help to cure the affected plants.
4) Alternaria Leaf Spot: It is a common foliar disease in apple plants. It is caused by the fungal pathogen Alternaria brassicicola. Even small infections can lead to an unmarketable crop. Severe foliar infections can lead to a reduction in yield due to leaf loss or reduction in weight. The fungus thrives in high humidity and high temperatures. The fungi are released during warm dry periods shortly after a rain. It can be prevented by spraying any zinc-based fungicide before rains.
5) Green Aphids: Prolonged dry weather conditions are the perfect environment for these insects. Green apple aphids infest terminal growth and when infestations are severe, they will also be found on fruits. High populations of young trees may seriously retard normal growth and result in irregular shoot growth. On bearing trees, heavy infestations of aphids may cover the fruit and foliage with honeydew on which a black, sooty mould develops. The mould can hinder leaf function and lower fruit grade. Aphids can be controlled by spraying broad-spectrum fungicides.
6) Red Mite: European red mite is another serious arthropod pest that feeds on foliage and reduces apple yield. It is also caused by dry weather conditions. Mites are often seen crawling on the newly formed buds and green parts of the plant sucking chlorophyll out of them. The disease can be managed by spraying an Acaricide.
7) San Jose Scale: These pests emerge as tiny winged male adults in the spring season and mate with the wingless females. The immature stages called crawlers are seen moving randomly on every part of the plant before settling down permanently prior to the harvest. Red dots on apples are an identification of this disease. This disease can be prevented by spraying a strong insecticide.
8) Leaf Miner: The leaf miner has been causing some serious sleepless nights for the apple growers in Kashmir. It’s like this sneaky little bug that never existed in Kashmir a couple of years ago but now it’s wreaking havoc in the apple industry over here. It has suddenly become a major headache for the growers.
In spring eggs are laid in young leaves during the period from the tight cluster bloom stage through petal fall. Larvae develop within the leaf tissue. The first three instars feed on sap within the leaves and are called sap-feeders. Sap-feeders have a white, flat, legless body with a brown, wedge-shaped head. They form snakelike mines in the leaf that are visible only on the lower surface of leaves. Fourth and fifth-stage larvae are known as tissue-feeders because feeding is concentrated more on leaf tissue than on sap. Tissue feeders have both legs and prolegs and a round head. These older larvae tie the sides of the leaf together with silk to form tents. Leafminers overwinter within mines in leaves on the orchard floor. These are controlled by broad-spectrum and specialized insecticide sprays.
When the rain keeps pouring and the dry spells linger, it’s like a double trouble dance for our apple orchards. From battling bugs to dodging diseases, it’s a wild ride out there. But, amid all this chaos, our apple growers keep on faith, standing tall against Mother Nature’s curveballs with skill and fortitude, ensuring the orchards thrive against all odds.
The writer is an Accounts Assistant in the Department of Finance, Government of J&K

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Shakir Nisar