Deficient Rainfall: Experts formulate advisory for agriculture, horticulture in J-K

SRINAGAR — In wake of the deficient rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir in the past over one month, the experts here have suggested the farmers take all the necessary steps to ensure that their crops are not damaged, which would lead to huge losses to them.

According to the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the orchardists have been advised to take all the necessary measures for both the crops including standing crops as well as Kharif crops.

A top official in the Agriculture department told KNO that so far there has been no damage to the crops due to the deficient rainfall, but still, the advisory has been issued to ensure there is no damage to the crops in case the dry spell persists.

A meeting of experts was held recently under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) to formulate an advisory for agriculture and horticulture in view of the current prevailing above normal temperatures and rainfall deficit.

“For oil seeds (Mustard), stage Siliquae (Pod) formation, light irrigation in case of availability of irrigation, in case of showers, no irrigation is required,” the document, a copy of which lies with KNO reads, adding that for Oat in the vegetative stage, apply light irrigation if the available application of a top dose of nitrogen at the rate of 4.25kg/kanal where sufficient rainfall is received or irrigation is available and for flower initiation stage, the orchardists have been asked to apply light irrigation on priority.

For wheat in the stage of booting/flowering, apply zinc at the rate of 2kg in 400 litres of water for 20 kanals or Boron at the rate of 600gm in 400 litres of water for 20 kanals, it said, adding that for peas in the stage of flowering/pod formation, the orchardists have been asked to wait for the shower or give light irrigation, if available, with weeds to be cut and put in place as mulch.

For vegetable crops, cole crops and root crops in stage flowering/seed/formation, they have been asked to do light irrigation.

For horticultural crops (Apple) in the petal fall stage, the growers have been asked to start drip irrigation in HDP for half an hour in the morning and evening hours. Organic mulching of individual trees, spraying of fungicide at petal fall stage before rains or immediately after rains and also apply calcium chloride 0.3% in orchards at the fruitlet stage.