SRINAGAR: The Directorate of Extension, SKUAST-Kashmir, has issued an advisory for apple growers, urging them to follow recommended practices for safe pesticide use and proper orchard management during the current growing season.
The advisory asks growers to purchase pesticides only from registered dealers holding valid licences and to verify the batch number, registration number, and manufacturing and expiry dates on product labels before purchase. Farmers have also been advised to obtain a proper bill or invoice and carefully read the instructions on pesticide containers before use.
The university has advised orchardists to prepare pesticide suspensions only with clean water and use protective clothing, including gloves, face masks and aprons, while handling and spraying agrochemicals. Growers have also been asked to use only those pesticide brands and doses recommended by SKUAST-Kashmir and to carry out spraying during the morning or evening hours.
Besides plant protection measures, the advisory recommends ensuring adequate irrigation to reduce moisture stress, applying a 4–6-inch layer of grass mulch around the tree canopy, and applying the second dose of fertiliser where it has not yet been administered.
The advisory also cautions growers against using agrochemicals that are not recommended by SKUAST-Kashmir or mixing different agrochemicals in the same spray tank. It advises against preparing pesticide suspensions with muddy or stagnant water, handling pesticides without protective clothing, using pesticide doses higher or lower than recommended, and spraying during the hottest part of the day.
The Directorate of Extension said adherence to these recommendations would help ensure effective pest management while promoting orchard health and the safe use of agrochemicals.
