Srinagar May 7 (KNS): Director Horticulture, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat on Friday directed Chief Horticulture Officers to initiate an immediate visit to hailstorm affected areas of South and North Kashmir to access the loss.
The horticulture department also issued advisories to Orchardists after hailstorm wrecked havoc in many areas of North and South Kashmir.
Speaking to KNS about the support of the Department to the affected orchardists, Dir Horticulture Aijaz Ahmed Bhat said, " I have already directed my CHOs to conduct an immediate visit to affected areas, and access the loss.
My officers are collecting the details of the damage and will submit the damage report to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir," he said.
He also said that Department has issued an advisory to orchardists related to post hailstorm sprays. The orchards should make sprays of fungicides (per 100 lit. of water)
In this connection, Zineb 68% + Hexaconazole 4% 72 WP (100 g) or Metiram 55% + Pyraclostrobin 5% 60 WG (100 g) or Mancozeb 75 WP (300g) or Zineb 75 WP (300 g) can be used.
In addition to the above, the orchards may be sprayed with Urea @ 0.2% (200 g per 100 lit. of water) 3 days after the above spray.
The advisory asks for maintaining proper orchard sanitation and remove fallen fruit/leaves from the orchard.
Ensure drainage of excess water and staking of heavy fruit-bearing branches to avert uprooting of trees due to excess soil moisture.
The hailstorm hit many areas of South and North Kashmir, including Chawan, Zampathri, Pehlipora, Muqami Donaro villages of Keller Zone of Shopian.
Hailstorm (lightly) occurred at village Devsar, Akhal and village Brinal Lammer Qzd of district Kulgam. As per reports hailstorm also occurred in Villages of Abhama, Bagender, Sangerwani and Khaiegam in Shadimarg Zone of Pulwama District.
A light hailstorm occurred at Devsar, Churat and Lammad yesterday in district Kulgam.
CHO Handwara visited various orchards affected by hailstorm along with DDC Mawer. Damage is up to 25%, says an official.
An Official told KNS that no hailstorm reported from district Baramulla and Ganderbal areas yet.(KNS)