Dry spell & warm weather may affect Apple and other crops in Himachal – experts share tips

In the mid of winter season Himachal’s Farmers and Apple growers are facing dry spell and extremely warm temperature which may affect the prospect of good and quality crops in the Rabi season. Horticulture expert and former Director of Mashobra Horticulture  Meteorological Department SP Bhardwaj advised the growers to avoid the use of Tree Spray Oil (TSO). He told us that many gardeners these days spray TSO to induce flowering before normal time, which is totally baseless and futile therefore Farmers don’t do TSO spray particularly on the canker affected plants. For breaking of dormancy and spurting of flowers buds early in winter he advised farmer to apply Bordeaux mixture or spray blitox on the plants by the end of February. He said that apple growers are already expected to complete the pruning and training work in the apple orchards. He said that immediately after , spraying of Blitox or Bordeaux mixture on the plants apple growers should clear or collect the cutting twigs or branches from orchard and burn it in the stove of the house. He said that ashes of twigs should be  collected and filled in a sack and kept in dry and dark place. He advised that in the month of March Farmers should mix one kg of ash per plant in plant beds at a distance of one meter from the stem and cover it with a light layer of soil.  Apart from increasing the nutrients, it also reduces the incidence of root borer.  Ash can also be used by mixing it with manure and fertilizers.  If there is sufficient amount of rain and snow in the February, then in this month or even after this, all these works could be done without any hesitation in March before sapling operation. Apple growers  should not be in a hurry  due  to warm temperature and dry spell he warned adding that manure and chemical fertilizers should be used in right quantity. Only when there is right conditions, otherwise there would be little benefit from this. To find the outbreak of disease farmers should take help of lens, carefully observe the twigs that have fallen on the ground due to pruning, whether they are free of white scale, sazos scale, woolly aphid or European red mite etc. Farmers are advised to mark the pest affected plants and treat it in March when the length of the leaves is about half an inch.

In wake of unexceptional high temperature and scanty snowfall and rain the mid of winter season  Indian Meteorological Department also issued Agriculture Weather Advisory to all farmer in the state. Spokesperson of IMD said that expected impact on Agriculture and Horticulture are also looming large on early maturity in Rabi or wheat crop resulting in reduction in yield on crops such as wheat due to terminal heat. IMD advised Farmers to  apply light irrigation and avoid spray of chemicals and fertilizers. The crop growing fields or farms should be kept weed free. The smut affected plants should be removed out from field and no chemicals should be applied on the plant for the protection of crops in dry spell. Weathermen also suggested the Farmers for applying mulch in vegetable between two rows and keep crop weed free. Experts also advised to delay sowing of crops or transplanting of vegetables , so that crop be diseases free. Advisory of foot and mouth disease in the livestock has also been sounded for livestock due to sudden high temperatures, which may breakout  in the hills of state. Farmers are asked to take precautionary measures with consultation of Krish Vigayan Kender and Veterinary experts, IMD said in Advisory.