A team of Scientists from Division of Entomology, Faculty of Horticulture, SKUAST-K (Dr. Barkat Hussain (Professor); Dr. Abu Manzar (Professor); Dr. Khursheed Ahmad Assistant Professor, ARS, Pahnoo; Dr. Mudasir Gani (Assistant Professor); Head KVK, Pulwama; Head KVK, Anantnag), officials from Directorate of Plant Quarantine and Storage, Faridabad, Haryana (Dr. V.D. Nigam; Dr. Mithilesh Kumar Arya; Sh. Haroon Rashid Haqla) and Department of Horticulture, J&K (Mohd Shafi Dar and other officials) visited Babapora, Awneura, ACHD Zainpora Farm, Zainpora and Wachi villages of Shopian and Kangikulla village of Kulgam on 17th August, 2023 and Gopalpora, Kolgad villages of Anantnag and Khandeypora, Chakoora, Wasoora villages of Pulwama on 18 August, 2023 in connection with the apple leaf blotch miner (ALBM) infestation under Survey and Surveillance program.
The team took stock of the situation and interacted with the farmers about the level/year of infestation, management strategies adopted and the involvement of Govt. agencies in eradication of this insect pest.
The team observed that there are varying levels of infestation of ALBM in managed/unmanaged apple orchards of these areas and suggested the farmers to adopt the management strategies recommended by SKUAST-K and Department of Horticulture.
