Tral : Farmers in Tral division of district Pulwama are in distress as the Apple orchards have been struck with ‘Alternaria’ disease, mostly found in the leaves of apple trees.
Farmers said that the disease spread like wild fire in Hari Parigam area of Tral and its adjoining areas, leading to very high severity.
“It resulted in extensive defoliation and fruit fall in almost all the orchards,” they claimed.
Officials at the Horticulture department claimed that part of the problem has been the ‘climate’ which led to ‘this epidemic’.
“Prolonged rains followed by high temperatures,” have aggravated the problems.
A team of horticulture department was deputed by the department to take stock of situation and to suggest remedial measures after field survey.
According to locals the team has visited the effected orchards and has advised orchardists to not worry “as there are medicines available that they can use.’
Horticulture Development Officer, Sartaj Ahmad, told INS that:”people should not worry medicines like Avtaar, Capriotop and Netev are already available in the market. They will be fine to control the disease.”
Picture used for representational purposes only and has no relation with the reported incident.
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