Fungicides unavailable in government outlets for hail-hit apple crop

Apple growers are claiming that at present, fungicides are not available at most of the outlets of the Horticulture Department. The department offers fungicides and other pesticides recommended in its spray schedule to the growers at subsidised rates at its outlets. “Apple growers have suffered huge losses due to heavy hailstorms at several places. In such difficult times, subsidised fungicides would have offered some relief to the affected growers. However, fungicides are not available at most of the outlets of the department,” said Harish Chauhan, a progressive apple grower of Rohru, here today.

Sohan Thakur, apple grower of Theog, said that the fungicides were not available in the Horticulture Department’s outlets even in his area. “The University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, recommends spraying fungicides to control fungal attack on injured fruit and battered leaves immediately after a hailstorm. However, fungicides are not available in the department’s outlets and the growers have to buy these from the market at the full cost,” he added.

While admitting that fungicides were not available in some of its outlets, an Horticulture Department official said that a supply order for fungicides had been made to companies and these would be available shortly in the department’s outlets. “Fungicides were available in our stores until a while ago. We have placed an order, and it would be available shortly,” he added.

Chauhan urged the Horticulture Department to make the fungicides recommended by the University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, available to the growers at the earliest. He also requested the government to revise the subsidy being offered on fungicides. “The 30 per cent subsidy given on these fungicides was frozen in the 90s. It has not been revised since then even as the cost of fungicides and other inputs has risen significantly. The government should revise the subsidy in the interest of small and marginal growers,” he added.

Required to control fungal attack

• The University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, recommends spraying fungicides to control fungal attack on injured fruit and battered leaves immediately after a hailstorm
• However, fungicides are not available in the Horticulture Department’s outlets and apple growers are buying these from the market at the full cost