While humans are facing the threat of COVID-19, fruit trees in Nainital district are becoming afflicted with taphrina fungus. Hail experienced earlier this year had damaged the fruit trees on top of which taphrina is threatening to severely damage the peach and plum production in the mountainous regions of Nainital. Ramgarh, Dhari and Bhimtal blocks of the district are worst affected by this problem.
Peach and plum trees were flowering when Ramgarh, Dhari and Bhimtal experienced hail on March 13 and 14. The hail, rain and fluctuating weather caused about 90 per cent of the flowers to drop. The government had started a survey to ascertain the damage caused by the hail but the COVID-19 situation cropped up due to which the survey was stopped midway. It should be noted here that the Ramgarh-Mukteshwar fruit belt in Nainital district is known for considerable peach production. Apples, plums, apricots and walnuts are also cultivated in this fruit belt. Due to good snowfall during January-February this year, the farmers were expecting a good yield of fruits. The peaches grown in Talla Ramgarh are famous in India. Last year about 26,428 metric tonnes of peaches were harvested from about 1,824 hectares and 6,294 metric tonnes of plums were harvested from 586 hectares. There are about 40,000 farmers cultivating fruits in eight blocks including Kotabagh, Ramgarh, Dhari, Okhalkanda and Bhimtal. However, only about 15,000 farmers are insured against weather damage to crop. The district horticulture officer Bhawna Joshi said that farmers should have sprayed in November for protecting their trees from taphrina. Due to damage caused by rain and hail, the horticulture secretary R Meenakshi Sudaram had directed a survey to ascertain the damage in Nainital, Almora, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Uttarkashi and Tehri districts. However, the reports from the districts are awaited. The taphrina fungus afflicts trees due to high humidity following rain and hail. Currently, peach trees in Ramgarh, Bhimtal and Dhari blocks have been afflicted by this fungus which causes the green leaves to turn brown and at times dries the tree itself. Farmers have sprayed their trees thrice so far but this has not had any effect on the fungus. Earlier, due to the meteorological factors, it was estimated that between 40 to 50 per cent of the fruit production in the district could be damaged. However, after the fungus affliction, farmers are estimating that up to 90 per cent of the fruit production could be damaged.
It is pertinent to mention here that apart from fruit cultivation, farmers also grow various vegetables in different parts of the district. However the rain and hail experienced on March 13-14 destroyed the peas in various areas. Further, the considerable rain is also expected to affect the potato production in the district.
