Press "Enter" to skip to content

Apple growers in J&K heave a sigh of relief after rains lashed valley

Last Updated on April 22, 2022 at 1:29 pm

Apple growers in Jammu and Kashmir took a sigh of relief after the rains lashed the valley. This year J&K witnessed a massive rise in mercury level and recorded 80 per cent deficit rainfall in March and dry weather conditions continued in April as well. This added to anxiety and worries amongst the apple growers.

Since the rains lashed valley since Wednesday, farmers and apple growers took a sigh of relief. Mohammad Ashraf Wani, a fruit grower and former president Fruit Mandi Shopian told Greater Kashmir that their worries have reduced after the rainfall as rains are very important for production and good quality of fruit.

Wani added that due to rising temperature since past month farmers had been worried for their production but now farmers are expecting a bumper crop this year in case the weather does not turn hostile. Further added that rise in temperature had advanced the flowering stage at least by two weeks, causing much distress among the growers.

An apple grower from Kulgam said that rains are crucial for the production as the canal irrigation is not possible everywhere. “Most of the growers, particularly in the upper reaches rely on the precipitation”, he added.

The apple industry is the mainstay of rural economy in the region, providing livelihood to around 3.5 million people. Farmers have witnessed a slump for the last few years due to unseasonal, heavy snowfall, scab, low prices and multiple lockdowns.