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Kashmir loses another indigenous fruit variety this time to pest
India
Monday 17 March 2008
Until recently, Kashmir was 'self-reliant' in pomegranate production, but infestation of the Anar Butterfly pest has hit the fruit so hard, it is now imported from other Indian regions and abroad.
These days, entire supply of the fruit comes from different parts of India, with experts holding the pest responsible for decline in the production.
The pest infests the fruit as early as at the flowering stage and in a few days the caterpillars enter the fruit and feed on the pulp. As the fruit reaches maturity, caterpillars come out of the entry hole and eventually the fruit drops off.
Control measures to fight the pest are expensive for the farmers and they can't bear the cost of management as their returns are less than expenditure.
These days, entire supply of the fruit comes from different parts of India, with experts holding the pest responsible for decline in the production.
The pest infests the fruit as early as at the flowering stage and in a few days the caterpillars enter the fruit and feed on the pulp. As the fruit reaches maturity, caterpillars come out of the entry hole and eventually the fruit drops off.
Control measures to fight the pest are expensive for the farmers and they can't bear the cost of management as their returns are less than expenditure.
