Srinagar, April 29 -- Growers from various parts of Kashmir said that the livelihood of around 60 percent of the population who are directly dependent on the horticulture sector is under threat as erratic weather conditions will trigger diseases in their orchards.

Muhammad Yousuf, a fruit grower from Shopian, said that erratic weather conditions will lead to different diseases in orchards and impact the quality of the fruit as well.

These rainy weather conditions are also impacting the leaves of fruit trees which in turn is impacting their produce.

Sameer Ahmad, another grower, said that last year due to the same weather conditions, there was a very low fruit set due to which growers suffered losses.

"This sector gets affected by one ...