Kashmir orchardists turn to unapproved growth regulators amid concerns of efficacy, safety

Srinagar: Orchardists across Kashmir are increasingly turning to plant growth regulators (PGRs) in hopes of improving fruit set in their apple orchards—despite these chemicals lacking official approval or scientific backing from either the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) or the Department of Horticulture.
As spring arrives in the valley, farmers are investing crores of rupees into spraying growth regulators across thousands of acres of fruit orchards. Many believe these synthetic hormones help in better fruit formation and higher yields. Yet, amid the rush, voices of caution persist among both seasoned growers and horticultural scientists.
“There are more than two brands of growth regulators currently available in the local market. But none of them have been officially recommended for use by SKUAST or the horticulture department,” a senior SKUAST scientist said
Veteran fruit grower Mohammad Yousuf from Shopian remains unconvinced by the growing popularity of these substances. “I have tried growth regulators in the past,” he said. “Yes, the initial fruit set looks promising, but most of those fruits drop prematurely—around June or July. It’s a short-lived benefit that ends up being a waste of both time and money.”
Yousuf warned that long-term use of these chemicals could be detrimental to the orchards. “Continuous use year after year may leave the trees exhausted and non-productive. The yields eventually drop sharply,” he said.
On the other hand, growers like Javid Ahmad offer a contrasting view. Having used growth regulators for several seasons, he claims to have witnessed a remarkable increase in production. “My yields have almost doubled,” Javid said. “In a competitive market, I have to take chances.”
Amid these differing experiences, orchardists are urging the government and research institutions to step in and issue clear guidelines. “The silence from authorities is confusing,” said one grower. “We need to know whether using these chemicals is safe for the long-term health of our orchards.”
They said that due to less yield last year, the majority of the growers have been spraying PGRs to witness better results this year.
Experts, however, advise extreme caution. Dr Tariq, a pomologist at SKUAST-K’ said PGRs are not suitable for regular use in the valley’s temperate climate. “These chemicals are designed to address specific stress conditions, such as poor pollination caused by adverse weather during flowering,” he explained. “In normal climatic conditions like those in Kashmir, their use is not only unnecessary but potentially harmful.”
He said if SKAUST may have recommended it, then it would have been mentioned in the spray schedule but you won’t find it in the schedule.
He outlined several risks associated with these synthetic hormones: “They artificially induce fruit set, which often results in fruits with poorly developed seeds. Such fruits are likely to fall prematurely, leading to significant post-set losses,” he said.
Dr Tariq said that trees treated with growth regulators tend to bear excessive fruit loads, which the plants are unable to support naturally. “This stresses the tree, disrupts nutrient balance, and results in small, poor-quality fruits,” he warned