Scab infection hits apple crop

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, July 26

The spread of scab disease in apple orchards across the state has led to panic among fruit growers.

Horticulture experts blame it to delay in the spray of pesticides, which is vital for a healthy growth of apple plants, owing to the Covid-induced lockdown. The movement of people was restricted during the lockdown period.

“Congenial weather conditions lead to the spread of the disease rapidly. To check it further, orchardists need to follow the regular pesticide spray schedule prescribed by the Horticulture Department,” they said. Apple orchardists from Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Kinnaur districts said the disease damaged the leaves and crop badly and weakened the plant. In Kullu district, orchards in Banjar, Ani, Manikaran, Lag valley and some parts of Manali have witnessed the disease outbreak. A major part of Jenjhehi and Gada Gushain in Mandi district and Kharapathar, Nawar valley, Mandalgarh and Chhohara valley in Shimla district are the most affected.

Ravinder Singh Sisodiya, apple grower from Jarol village in Mandi district, said scab disease had spread its tentacles in the entire Janjehli valley, which was known for apple cultivation.

Dr Agar Das, a retired horticulture expert from Rohru in Shimla district, said the state government should declare the outbreak as pandemic. “The government should revive scab monitoring labs in the state with immediate effect,” he said.

Dr Chint Ram Thakur, subject matter specialist from the Horticulture Department, Janjehli, also confirmed the disease outbreak in Janjehli.