Valley apple growers have complained that the sub-standard pesticides available in the market have caused scab disease to their crop.

The growers alleged they have suffered losses this season as spurious pesticides are supplied in market leading to the decrease in the apple production by 50 per cent.

Growers said North Kashmir villages like Darwa, Kachwa, Midan, Sheerpora, Kandi Sangrama are worst hit due to the usage of these fake pesticides.

“Almost 50 percent of our production has been damaged due to the sub-standard pesticides. All the pesticides that farmers have used so far on the orchards have failed to yield any results. Our orchards have caught scab diseases,” said an apple grower Feroz Khan of North Kashmir, Sheerpora.

Khan said the sprays of these pesticides have felled the leaves and crop contracted diseases.

“As trees are without leaves, the direct heat has affected the crop. So, far we have used five pesticides (Index, Griper, Wave, Score and Kabro top) but none of them proved beneficial,” said Khan.

Another apple grower, Tariq Ahmad of Darwan village said the use of the pesticides advised by the authorities have proved disastrous for the apple orchards.

“We spray the prescribed pesticides (Dorin, Cantall, Score, Annual) to the orchards; however, instead of improving the quality of fruits it has degraded rapidly,” said Tariq.

The situation is no better in South Kashmir. According to fruit growers, due to use of fake pesticides, the apples in the Valley have contracted various diseases affecting the quality, taste and size of the fruit, thereby causing heavy losses to them.

General Secretary of Fruit Association Shopian Farooq Ahmad Malik said that 90 percent of apple orchards have caught scab diseases and farmers are on the verge of huge economic losses.

“The situation in Shopian is worse. Our apple orchards have ruined and authorities are in deep slumber. I appeal government to take some measures about the fake pesticides in market,” said Malik.

Malik said if necessary action won’t be taken to stop the spread of fake pesticides in Kashmir there would be no more production of apples in valley.

“The sub standard pesticides are destroying the quality of apples in Kashmir. I am afraid if it will continue like this, we will have the same fate of apples like our carpets,” said Malik.

Another apple grower Khalil Mir of Rajpora said the free supply of fake pesticides has resulted in less production of apples this year.

“We are suffering from huge losses. Our family entirely depends upon the apple production. It is our only income. We have many times requests authorities to stop the sale of fake pesticides in market but nobody has listened to our grievances,” said Mir.

In November last year, taking cognizance of allegations by fruit growers that supply of fake and spurious pesticides has hit apple production in the Valley this year, the government has constituted a high powered committee headed by Vice Chancellor SKAUST (K) to probe the quality degradation of apple.

However, so far the committee has failed to stop the supply of fake pesticides in Kashmir.

Director of Agriculture Peerzada Mushtaq Ahmad who was the member of the committee said, “I don’t know the present status of that committee. It was headed by Vice Chancellor SKAUST and we held couple of meetings but after that I don’t know what happened to it.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Akhtar Hussain said checking the quality of pesticides comes under the domain of law and enforcement wing.

“We (Horticulture department) only have subject specialist which monitors the usage of pesticides in apple field and provide logistically support to farmers. We are not the authorized to check the quality of pesticides. It is being watched by law and enforcement department,” said Hussain.

The latest report of NABARD which overlooks and ensures growth of horticulture sector in India has also raised concerns pertaining to the Rs 4000 crore apple industry in the Valley.

It has stated that the industry despite standing against all odds during the militancy in 1990s is being hijacked by the mafias and vested interests and needs major overhaul for its sustainable growth.

Meanwhile, Director Law and Enforcement Surinder Jamwal said that department is consistently monitoring the fake supply of pesticides in market.

“We are picking up regular samples to test them in laboratory. Whatever pesticides come to J&K, these are thoroughly tested in Jammu and before their entry to Kashmir we again test them. Their standards are accordingly looked as per the Insecticides act 1968,” said Jamwal.

Rejecting the allegation of favoring some Kashmiri brands of pesticide; Jamwal said the department was ready to take action against any company irrespective of its status.

“These are mere allegations. I am ready to take action against any company whose product will be found substandard. Our Law enforcement officers are placed in each district and they are monitoring the usage of pesticides in orchards closely,” said Jamwal.

Source - http://www.risingkashmir.com/