Prolonged rainfall across Kashmir could lead to some fruit drop in apple orchards, but the showers are largely expected to benefit fruit development by improving size, quality and nutrient uptake, horticulture experts said.
The rainfall comes after weeks of dry weather that had forced many orchardists to irrigate their farms using water pumps amid rising temperatures.
Experts said adequate soil moisture at this stage of the growing season is crucial for fruit development and could improve both the appearance and quality of the apple crop.
“Rain at this stage is beneficial for the overall growth of the fruit. It will increase fruit size, enhance shine and improve nutrient uptake by the trees,” said Tariq Rasool, Senior Scientist and Associate Professor of Plant Pathology at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K).
However, he cautioned that prolonged wet weather could also create favourable conditions for fungal diseases, particularly in orchards located in low-lying areas.
“Continuous rainfall coupled with high humidity can increase the incidence of diseases such as Alternaria and secondary scab, especially where water accumulates” said Rasool.
Experts have advised the orchardists need to remain vigilant and adopt timely disease-management measures if the wet spell continues.
They said proper drainage and regular monitoring of orchards would be essential to minimise disease outbreaks and prevent losses.
While excessive rainfall and waterlogging can adversely affect orchards, experts said the current spell is likely to remain beneficial if it does not persist for an extended period.
The Meteorological Department (MeT) on Monday issued a red alert for parts of Jammu and Kashmir, forecasting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall until July 23. It warned of flash floods, landslides, mudslides and overflowing rivers in vulnerable areas.
Orchardists welcomed the rainfall, saying it had ended a prolonged dry spell that had raised concerns over fruit development.
“For the past several weeks, many farmers were forced to irrigate their orchards manually by using water pumps because there was hardly any rain,” said Tariq Ahmad Mir, an orchardist from Shopian.
“The rains have brought much-needed relief from the scorching heat and reduced the stress on the trees. We are hopeful that if the weather remains favourable and diseases are kept under control, the crop will benefit,” he said.
Apple is Kashmir’s principal horticultural crop and supports the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of families across the Valley. Growers said the coming days would be crucial, with the benefits of the rainfall depending on how long the wet spell lasts and whether orchards remain protected from disease.
