Maharashtra pomegranate farmers use crop covers to save final harvest amid soaring heat

Kolhapur: Pomegranate farmers across Maharashtra are deploying crop covers to protect plantations from extreme heat and salvage the final harvest of the season, as temperatures soar beyond 40°C and threaten fruit quality and yields.The fabric crop covers reduce orchard temperatures by around 25-30%, help shield maturing fruits from sunburn, conserve irrigation water, and minimise damage from hail. Farmers also say the covers indirectly help curb pest and bacterial attacks during the crucial maturation phase.Pomegranates are harvested in three cycles — Ambe Bahar (from Sept), Mrig Bahar (around Dec), and Hasta Bahar, the final flowering, in which flowers bloom in Aug and fruits are harvested between March and May. With the Hasta Bahar yield now nearing maturity, farmers say protecting the crop is critical to avoid heavy losses."The temperature is soaring above 40°C. While dry weather suits the crop during maturation, excessive heat results in poor-quality fruit," said Vijay Margale, a pomegranate farmer from Atpadi tehsil in Sangli district. He said heat stress causes the arils (the grains inside the fruit) to remain white and underdeveloped instead of maturing into juicy, translucent grains.Maharashtra has the highest pomegranate acreage in the country, covering about 1.07 lakh hectares, concentrated largely in Solapur, Sangli, Satara, Nashik and parts of Pune district.Vishal Gunjwate, a farmer from Bijwadi village in Satara district's Man tehsil, said crop covers improve market quality. "The cover gives fruits a glazing shine. Without it, fruits tend to turn black. It also helps protect plantations from ‘telya' bacterial infestation," he said.Farmers say continued heat protection during the coming weeks will be crucial to ensure quality fruit reaches markets during the peak summer harvest.
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