Srinagar, March 4: The unusually high temperatures and a sharp rainfall deficit have hit plant nurseries across the Valley, prompting farmers to delay planting new trees. It has badly impacted the nursery industry estimated to be worth about Rs 100 crores.

According to MeT officials, the Valley has recorded daytime temperatures between 20 and 21 degrees Celsius since mid-February — about 9-11 degrees above normal for the period.
Rainfall has also been scarce.
The MeT official predicted further rise in day temp by 2-3°C at most places in the next 3 days.
In February, Srinagar recorded only 5.3 mm of precipitation, the lowest for the month since 1960, according to meteorological data.
The unusual weather in the Valley has disrupted the planting season, particularly for apple orchards, a key part of the region’s horticulture economy.
According to nursery owners, sales of plant material have dropped significantly this year as farmers remain cautious about planting in dry soil and warmer-than-usual conditions.
“This season our sales have declined by about 25 to 30 percent because farmers are not buying plant material,” said the owner of a nursery in Qaimoh area in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Qaimoh houses more than 400 nurseries that supply saplings across Kashmir. A large share of the local population depends on nursery cultivation, mainly apple plants for their livelihood.
Nursery growers say the abrupt rise in temperature has made planting difficult and disrupted the usual seasonal cycle.
“We have not seen such an abrupt rise in temperatures in many decades. With these changing climatic conditions, plantation has become very difficult,” said another nursery owner in the area.
He said he usually sells most of his stock by the first week of March. “This year nearly 40 percent of my stock remains unsold”.
The plantation season in Kashmir typically begins in mid-February and continues until the second week of March, when farmers plant young saplings to expand or renew their orchards.
Farmers say low soil moisture is another major concern.
Zahoor Ahmed Mir, an apple grower from Sopore, said the dry conditions are discouraging farmers from planting new trees.
“There is very little moisture in the soil. Even if new saplings are planted now, they may not survive because of the high daytime temperatures,” Zahoor said.
Horticulturists have expressed similar concerns, saying the unusual weather has already disrupted plantation activity this season.
Many farmers are now waiting for rainfall before deciding whether to plant new trees.
In what could be termed as a good news for farmers, the MeT has predicted that from March 7-9 there would be generally cloudy weather with light rain/snow (at higher reaches) at isolated to scattered places.