April downpour devastate strawberry crop

Srinagar, May 10: The persistent in clement' heath-er during the month of April has caused huge damage to the strawberries. particu-larly during the crucial flowering stage.

The heavy downpours. far from nurturing the delicate blossoms. have instead in-undated fields, resulting in Substantial losses for farm-en who were eager ly an-ticipating a fruitful harvest this season.

The flowering stage is a critical phase in the growth cycle of strawberries. as it determines the yield and quality of the crop. How-ever-the heavy rains that lashed the region during April proved to be disastrous for farmers. as the incessant downpours caused wide-Spread damage to the delicate blossoms .

"We were expecting a good yield this season. However. the heavy rains during April, when the strawberry crop was at its flowering stage. led to the failure of the crop at its initial stage. The rain sand cold weather halt pol-lination following which the flowers wither." said Mo-hammad Ya seen. a straw-berry farmer from Zakoora.

He said the weather during May will play a crucial role for the strawberry crop fl he flowering of strawberries continue sandi fit rain sort he temperature goes ab-normally up, then we may face huge losses. We are still hopeful for a favour able weather ahead ," Ya seen said.

Strawberries, one of the first cash crops of the hor-ticulture sector ofJam mu and Kashmir. are grown in Dara. and Gusooa reason the outskirts of Srinagar besides other neighboring districts.

Given the huge profit mar-gin, many farmers over the years have shifted from vegetable farming to straw-berries in Kashmir. Gaasu village alone produces al-most one thousand trays equal to 2000 kg daily. Same ordeal is being nar-rated by the strawberry growers of Tangmarg area who said the heavy rains led to the crop failure.

"This has become a routine for us to face heavy losses. Heavy rains during Spring season cause a huge damage to the strawberry plants. This season, wehad a good strawberry- bloom and it was expected that farmers will have a good yield." Said Mohammad Ashiq Khan. a farmer from Tangmarg.

We witnessed dry weath-er in March and later heavy rains in April. This weath-er pattern certainly affects the quality of the straw-berry: be said.

An official from the hor-ticulture department said they expect a bumper crop as the crop is in its flowering stage yet

We will have a good pro-duction this season and we hope our farmers earn a good profit from the crop," he said.