Cold returns, so does apple farmers’ worry

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 17

Fruit growers are in deep worry due to the sudden change in weather, which can hit the blooming orchards adversely, marring the chances of a good crop for the third time in a row.

Sudden rainfall and cold conditions have caught the farmers unawares as they had experienced “good snow, chill and moisture in winters”, rekindling their hopes for a good crop this year.

“The rain, during the flowering period of apples, reduces the potential for effective pollination and fruit-set,” said Dr Pankaj Gupta, a senior fruit scientist at the Fruit Research Station, Mashobra.

Firstly, the rain inhibits the foraging activities of all bee species and thus reduces pollen transfer. Secondly, the rain inhibits germination and growth of pollen on the stigma and results in pollen death, Dr Gupta said. “As such, the rainfall will have an adverse effect on apple crop in case of weal pollution. The minimum temperature at Mashobra was 5.6°C on Tuesday, which is not good for the fruit-set,” he rued.

But farmers still have their finger crossed, expressing optimism this year, after they faced two successive years of crop failure. “We are still optimistic that the two days of scattered rain and cold weather will have a positive impact on the fruit-set,” said Laxman Thakur, chairman of Ecohort, Jubbal valley.

Thakur said the fruit size would be good at lower heights. “In the mid-hill belt, the gentle rain will result in a good size and well distributed crop. The cold weather will result in dropping of weak fruits only. At higher reaches, it will help make a better fruit-set this year and new plantation will get established,” he claimed.

Thakur said farmers should not worry due to the cold weather because the “flowers are strong and healthy this time due to enough snow, chill and moisture in winter months. They should take care of pollination part,” he added.

Kunal Chauhan, general secretary, Progressive Growers Association (PGA), said the growers in higher altitude areas will feel the crunch in fruit setting due to the bad weather.

Kunwar Karan Singh, a young progressive farmer from Kumarsain, said in lower areas, the fruit-set is average to good for both pear and apple. But then, adverse weather can have some negative result in the higher and mid hills, where it is bloom time, if the orchards are not well-pollinated and maintained, he added.