Srinagar: Apple growers in several parts of south Kashmir have been complaining about leaf minor pest as it has been infecting their orchards for the third consecutive year now.
As per a local expert, a leaf miner is a tiny, inconspicuous insect that belongs to the Lepidopteron family. One of a kind, apple leaf miner causes severe damage to apple orchards. The larvae of these moths feed on the leaf tissue, effectively tunneling between the top and bottom layers of the leaf, creating visible mines. This not only affects the aesthetics of the tree but may lead to a significant reduction in fruit yield, as it disrupts the essential process of photosynthesis.
And Farmers say the pest created havoc in orchards for the past three years now as it spreads by laying web layers from one branch to another affecting the trunk and fruit.
“We are witnessing this pest from two years, whichever orchard it affected- the produce becomes matt, smaller in size as this insect suck all the nutrients from trees,” farmers said.
Aamir Hussain a fruit grower from Pulwama said that the new pest is laying web layers from one branch to another and trunk and it even gets into fruit.
“This pest whose number is in millions is sucking all nutrients from the tree due to which size of fruit remains small. It is damaging leaves and then trees as well,” he said.
Growers said initially, the pest was found in Shopian’s Zainapora but spread to other areas including Zainapora, Litter, Watchi, Yaripora, Lassipora, Tahab and Bijbehara areas the following year.
In the ongoing season, almost all orchardists in south Kashmir are complaining about the disease.
They have demanded attention of horticulture department and experts to prevent further damage.
“Even after spraying insecticides several times, there is hardly any effect on this pest,” they said.
Orchards where leaf miner was reported have even complained about premature fruit last year.
Senior Scientists from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST) said that it is an invasive insect which has been identified as “leaf miner and has probably reached here before four years.”
Leaf miners were reported some time ago but in last two year their manifestation has increased yet their number is not too huge, the expert said.
“Most pathogens and fungal or bacterial diseases are invasive species and this leaf miner is curable if growers will follow advisories regularly,” he added.
Kashmir’s apple industry which is the backbone economy of the region has been witnessing a collapsing brunt since 2019 following the Article 370 Clampdown in 2019, Covid Lockdown In 2020, Untimely Snowfall In 2021, Transportation struggles, wild boar threat and now the new pest infestation have left growers hopeless.
(KNO)