Earthquake hit apricot in Malatya

The fight of a significant part of the apricot growers in Malatya, who had difficulties in supplying medicines due to the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, against the monilia disease was interrupted this year.

Growers are fighting the monilial disease, which is seen on apricot trees every year and reduces yields for at least two harvest seasons, with pesticides from the first flowering period.

The fact that pesticide distributors in the city were closed due to the earthquakes made it difficult for manufacturers to supply pesticides.

The effects of the monilia disease have begun to be observed, especially in apricot trees in orchards below 1200 altitude, which flower prematurely. In some areas, the frosts also affected the apricot trees.

Manufacturers that supply pesticides continue with their pesticide applications.

The damage assessment studies of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry continue throughout the city.

‘THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE CLOSED DEALERS’

Growers in the Yeşilyurt district, where 1.1 million out of 9 million apricot trees are located in Malatya, are fighting against monilia disease.

Yeşilyurt Chamber of Agriculture Chairman Doğan Solmaz examined apricot orchards in Çayırköy district, where the effects of monilial disease were observed.

Noting that the effects of disease and frost will show up more clearly in gardens as the weather gets warmer, Solmaz said:

“Our biggest problem was that the drug dealers closed due to the disaster. Since each of our farmers is not a member of the Farm Credit Union, there were delays in spraying because they were unable to borrow the pesticide. Monilya disease is also visible in this garden. The disease adversely affects both this year’s and next year’s harvest of apricots.

Noting that there are orchards affected by frost, Solmaz pointed out that officials from the Agricultural and Forestry Directorate and insurance experts are conducting damage assessment studies.

THE BRANCHES OF DISEASE MUST BE CUT OFF

Stating that Monilya disease and frost increase the victimization of apricot growers affected by the earthquake, Solmaz continued as follows:

“Our state must continue to support our farmers because Malatya’s economy is based on apricots. Due to the disaster, Malatya’s economy is currently at a standstill. If the farmer can harvest, he will support the economy of the city ”.

DESTRUCTION OF JOBS AFFECTED TO THE MANUFACTURER

Apricot farmer Baki Özdemir said that the destruction of workplaces in the city due to the earthquake also negatively affected the farmer.

Özdemir also stated that the buildings where growers supplied sellers with payment at the end of the harvest were demolished, saying:

“In general, we had difficulties accessing medicines. The addresses of some drug dealers have changed, some stores have been demolished. Since not all growers are members of the Farm Credit Union, they could not borrow. Access to medicines has become more difficult. Successive rains also delayed our medication. Because of this, the trees became infected with the monilia disease. After finding the medicine, the rain gave him no chance. In the mud, the citizen tried to throw medicine, but unfortunately the trees turned into monilya. We are already grieving, and if there is no apricot, it means that a cogwheel is broken in Malatya. If our state extends its hand, it will be very good for our farmers.”

WHAT IS MONILIA DISEASE?

The disease called “Monilinia laxa” in the literature; It is defined as a type of fungal disease that can lead to loss of fruit yield on hardy trees such as apricot, peach, cherry, plum, sour cherry, and almond.

The disease, which infects trees, spreads especially to flowers, flower stems, buds and finally to fruits.

Infected flowers turn brown. The disease causes thin shoots to dry out completely, “cancerous” wounds to form on thick shoots and branches, and branches to dry backward from the tip.

The Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry points out that it is of great importance to cut and destroy the infected shoots and branches in the areas where the disease is observed, and to collect the mummified fruits and bury them in the ground.

It is claimed that to protect the trees from the disease it is necessary to fight with pesticides, in the first flowering period when flowering is 5 to 10 percent, and in the last period when flowering is complete, when it is 90 to 100 percent. (AA)