Import of apples from the US and other countries do not threaten the industry in Jammu and Kashmir, neither can it be stopped, a senior official of the horticulture department said on Sunday. He admitted the drop in the apple production in the territory this season and attributed it to the erratic weather, requesting growers to attend awareness camps and follow the weather advisories of the department.
“Compared to 2022, this year the production has recorded a shortfall and the main reason for this is erratic weather. First, decrease in the temperatures hit pollination followed by intermittent hailstorm and sudden rise in the temperature with less rainfall,” he said.
The production drop this season in Kashmir has not disheartened the orchardists, who are looking forward to improve quality of fruits to win over the local and international markets.
Source: statetimes.in
