Valley apple growers:
India: Crop production down by 50% due to fake pesticides
Growers said North Kashmir villages like Darwa, Kachwa, Midan, Sheerpora, Kandi Sangrama are worst hit due to the usage of these fake pesticides.
“Almost 50 percent of our production has been damaged due to the sub-standard pesticides. All the pesticides that farmers have used so far on the orchards have failed to yield any results. Our orchards have caught scab diseases,” said an apple grower Feroz Khan of North Kashmir, Sheerpora.
Khan said the sprays of these pesticides have felled the leaves and crop contracted diseases.
“As trees are without leaves, the direct heat has affected the crop. So, far we have used five pesticides (Index, Griper, Wave, Score and Kabro top) but none of them proved beneficial,” said Khan.
The situation is no better in South Kashmir. According to fruit growers, due to use of fake pesticides, the apples in the Valley have contracted various diseases affecting the quality, taste and size of the fruit, thereby causing heavy losses to them.
General Secretary of Fruit Association Shopian Farooq Ahmad Malik said that 90 percent of apple orchards have caught scab diseases and farmers are on the verge of huge economic losses. Malik said if necessary action won’t be taken to stop the spread of fake pesticides in Kashmir there would be no more production of apples in valley.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Akhtar Hussain said checking the quality of pesticides comes under the domain of law and enforcement wing. “We (Horticulture department) only have subject specialist which monitors the usage of pesticides in apple fields and provide logistic support to farmers. We are not authorized to check the quality of pesticides. It is being watched by law and enforcement departments,” said Hussain.
The latest report of NABARD which overlooks and ensures growth of the horticulture sector in India has also raised concerns pertaining to the Rs 40 billion apple industry in the Valley. It has stated that the industry despite standing against all odds during the militancy in 1990s is being hijacked by the Mafia and vested interests and needs major overhauls for its sustainable growth.
Meanwhile, Director Law and Enforcement Surinder Jamwal said that the department is consistently monitoring the fake supply of pesticides ion the market.
Rejecting the allegation of favouring some Kashmiri brands of pesticide; Jamwal said the department was ready to take action against any company irrespective of its status.
Source: risingkashmir.com
