India's beleaguered Himachal Pradesh apple growers are facing the latest in a list of problems to beset their season this year: a deadly fungal disease - Marssonina - that is causing huge crop losses across the hill state.
According to the Business-Standard, prolonged, heavy rain has lead to an outbreak of the disease, which causes leaf-shedding and fruit damage. Once the leaves fall, the fruit also drops to the ground, the report said, making it suitable only for processing.
The disease is spreading fast and farmers are powerless to stop it, the Business-Standard said, since they are not permitted to spray fungicides once harvesting has started.
Himachal Pradesh was set to produce a record crop this season, which began in July and ends mid-October. Around 26.8m boxes have already left the state, the report said.
Farmers in the region are already facing transport and packaging problems, according to press reports.
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