Shimla, July 20, 2015: A spokesman of horticulture department said here today that increase in humidity and temperature raised the risk of various diseases in fruit crops particularly the apple crop which was susceptible to many pests and diseases. He said these diseases could be checked by spraying prophylactic at regular intervals to the crops.
He advised the horticulturists for spraying fungicides like Mancozeb 600 gm, Difenconazole 30 ml, Thiophnate Methyle 100 gm, Carbendazim 100 gm, Hexaconazole 100 ml, Propineb 600 gm, Zineb 600 gm, Dodine 150 gm or Ziram 600 ml in 200 litre of water regularly in 15-20 days interval to control the diseases.
The spokesman said that department of Horticulture had supplied sufficient quantity of pesticides on subsidized rates to the growers and were being distributed through its plant protection centres. He said that during the year 2015, 375 MT/KL of pesticides costing Rs.1880 lakh and Rs. 572 lakh of subsidy had been provided to the orchardists. He said that 23 MT pesticides amounting to Rs. 106.29 lakh. would be purchased during this month.
He advised the fruit growers to contact technical officers of the department and scientists of the university in case of any symptoms of any disease or pest in their orchard and spray on their recommendations. He also advised not to mix any fungicide with any other chemical/micronutrient/ insecticide without the technical advice of the department to avoid russeting etc. on their crops.