Cherry producers in India's Shimla district, who produce 75% of Himachal Pradesh stone fruit crop, are being forced to cut down their trees due to leafhoppers that are spreading the rare Cherry X disease. It caused by the pathogenic phutoplasma spread by the leafhoppers.
The producers have called on the local government to assist them to eradicate the leafhoppers and to help save their trees. Seven cherry varieties are grown on these high lying areas of Shimla. There's about 10 000 producers who grow cherries on 550 hectares.
The leafhoppers have been a problem for the past year. Plans are being put in place to demarcate areas. If not controlled they can destroy the cherry growing area in five years.