<p></p><p>Experts fear that if the cold conditions continued to remain prevalent, there is every likelihood that the production of apple will also decrease like almond crops. Freaky weather coupled with intermittent downpour in June has badly affected the agriculture and horticulture crops in Kashmir, with experts fearing decline in production and outbreak of diseases like scab, alternaria in apple crops. Farmers community who are yet to recuperate from the devastating floods of September last year, are now facing another upheaval task as the production has dwindled with threat of outbreak of diseases The Kashmir’s apple crop which is mainstay of Horticulture sector is also reeling under the threat of decline in production and outbreak of diseases such as scab, alternaria. <br></p> <p>Experts fear that if the cold conditions continued to remain prevalent, there is every likelihood that the production of apple will also decrease like almond crops. “June is the month when temperature used to be at more than 25 degree but currently it is far below the expected range, as a result of which the fruits won’t ripe,” they said. Farmers are already feeling the heat due to freaky weather of 2015. “There was 50 percent decline in the production of almond crops,” Muhammad Yousuf, an almond grower said. He said that continuous rains during April, May and June severely damaged almond crop and even deteriorated quality of the fruit. President, New Kashmir Fruit Growers association, Bashir Ahmad Basheer said after almonds now apple crop is almost 50 percent damaged. <br></p> <p>“Almonds have suffered extensive damage as rains and hailstorm lashed Kashmir right from the time of flowering,” he said, adding that the plunging temperature and wet weather “make our fruit plants susceptible to diseases like scab and we have to spend extra amount to spray them with fungicides and insecticides more frequently. For 50 percent less crop we have to spend 200 percent more.” Director Horticulture, PK Sharma told Greater Kashmir that change in weather and cold conditions even during June are cause of concern for horticulturists. “Almond crop was hit and we are assessing the damage,” Sharma said adding at the same time there is now worry of apple crop also being hit.<br></p><p></p>