Admin sounds alarm: ‘If dry spell continues, crops to get badly hit’

SRINAGAR, JAN 20: The administration is worried about the persistent dry weather, and experts warn that if the dry spell persists in Kashmir till January end, it will have severe consequences for crops.
Kashmir has been witnessing dry weather over the last six weeks with experts warning of adverse impacts on agriculture, tourism and horticulture.

Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhary, the Director of Agriculture in Kashmir, highlighted the prolonged dry weather in the valley, a phenomenon not seen for many years. “If the dry spell persists until January, it could significantly impact crops, leading to stagnant growth and low productivity,” he told Morning Kashmir.
He reassured that an advisory has been issued to farmers, and a contingency plan is in place to minimize potential damage to crops in case the dry weather persists.
The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has issued an advisory for orchardists and farmers amid the dry spell. The advisory includes recommendations for apple, almond, and apricot orchardists to avoid pruning and irrigation and maintain sanitation to prevent freezing injury.
Inadequate irrigation choices are causing significant challenges for various crops, notably impacting orchard fields in Kashmir. These fields depend heavily on precipitation to supply water for paddy fields, and orchards, and to preserve soil moisture.
Mohammad Asif, a researcher at SKUAST K, highlighted that the seeds need a chilling period in winter to germinate effectively during the spring season. “Insufficient soil moisture during this crucial period can negatively impact crop growth, resulting in a decline in productivity. If the dry weather persists for the next 10 days, the crops will be severely affected,” he emphasized.
Farooq Ahmad, a troubled farmer, voiced worries about his withered turnip crops. “Unforeseen weather challenges have thrown the agricultural cycle into disarray, leaving farmers to contend with unforeseen repercussions,” he said.
The prolonged dry period is causing anxiety among mustard farmers, who are observing signs of deficiency attributed to inadequate rainfall or snowfall. Mustard, a crop harvested annually in April, is particularly susceptible as the scarcity of precipitation affects water resources for upcoming seasons.