India: Kashmir apple growers fear significant fruit drop

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India: Kashmir apple growers fear significant fruit drop

Incessant rainfall in India's Kashmir Valley could pose a threat to some ready-for-harvest apple crops that have become saturated with water and could fall from trees before optimum harvest time. Apples in rows

Although it is too early to tell how significantly fruit crops are damaged, experts from Kashmir's Department of Horticulture are concerned over the possibility of major fruit drop in the regions apple orchards.

Heavy rainfall has lashed orchards recently as the area is in the middle of the monsoon season and persistent rain is forecast over the next few days.

Experts are worried that apples will suffer as water stagnation builds up in the fruit, making it so heavy that it falls from the tree before harvesting can take place.

"There has been much rainfall lately and it will probably continue over the coming days, so this affects some crops such as apples. We are in the middle of assessing the damage in the Kashmir Valley and will be talking with farmers to direct them on what to do next," one horticultural official told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"It is the season for rainfall and we’ve certainly had heavy downpours. These downpours may not have damaged the apple trees in an obvious way as we have experienced previously, but too much water getting into fruit can be a very bad thing."

Meanwhile some harvests have been put on hold as heavy rains hamper efforts to manually pick crops, exacerbating fears that this year's apple yields will be adversely affected.

"Harvesting in some orchards has been delayed already because the weather makes it impossible to harvest and if fruit drop does occur then yields may be bad and the quality of apples may be affected which will be very costly."

A meeting is scheduled to discuss an action plan for the valley’s apple crops and farmers will be advised to drain orchards as quickly as possible to prevent a build up of water and avoid the potential of disease.

Related story: hailstorms lacerate apple and pear trees in Kashmir

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com

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