Abstract

“SURVEY OF INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPERATE FRUITS OF KASHMIR”

*Dr. P.K Sehgal, Rayees Ahmad Bhat M.Sc and Prof. G.M. MIR

Abstract

Kashmir has rightly been described as" the land of fruits. Its land environment and climate has provided greater facilities for horticulture industry to grow more rapidly. Today we see in this valley scores of varieties of apple, pear, almond, Walnut, several types of Cherry and other fruits which are grown and exported to other states. The, apparently, growing fruit industry has changed the social and economic status of our rural Kashmir and helped its people in reshaping their economy, to some extent. However, in the race of cultivating commercialized fruits, the land has been losing several varieties of century’s old traditional fruits. The fruit growers here have neglected their traditional fruit culture and are dealing with more commercial ones which yield them quick benefits but not without a huge price. Steps are needed to be taken to encourage cultivation of traditional fruits of Kashmir side by side with the more commercialized ones. Kashmir cultivator has been following the modern trends and techniques in both agriculture and horticulture. He is preferring the varieties of commercial fruit's like Pears and Apples after discarding the indigenous types as these fruit have helped cultivators to earn considerably well and attention has been divested on other commercialized varieties of such fruits, however many insects are there which damage these fruits & result in the heavy loss of fruits which directly effect the economy of the state (J&K).

Keywords: SURVEY OF INSECTS, TEMPERATE FRUITS OF KASHMIR.