...orchardists hopeful of bumper fruit crop

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 8

The first major snow of this winter will not only act as a white manure for apple crop but also have a rejuvenating impact on stone, citrus, wheat and barley crops, which have been hit by long dry spell in the state.

Farmers breathed a sigh of relief as widespread snow in the apple belt has brought in the much-needed moisture in orchards, besides bringing down the temperature, which in turn will balance the seasonal cycle.

Scientists said the widespread snow yesterday had brought down the mercury, which had impacted stone and other fruit crops.

“The widespread snow has normalised seasonal changes in peach, plums and almonds plants, which was triggered by the increasing mercury for the last three weeks,” said Dr Vijay Thakur, Vice-Chancellor, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni.

Since farmers had completed pruning and training works in apple orchards, the fresh snow acted as white manure and would recharge groundwater and fulfil moisture and chilling requirements of the plants, he added.

Dr Thakur said the prolonged dry spell had not impacted the apple belt much as nature healed everything fast and if it snowed or rained in the coming days, it could make up for the water scarcity as well.

“Chilling does strengthen plants, but does not impact the crop outcome much,” he added. Farmers said the fresh snow had rekindled their hopes for a good crop.

“Dry fields have been covered with white mantle all over the belt,” said Deepak and Prem Kumar, farmers from Chopal.

“The scientists have advised farmers to go for planting apple trees in the coming days as the snow and rain have brought enough moisture in soil. It is the right time to plant new trees,” they added.