Agricultural scientists and horticulture officials have launched field visits across South Gujarat to help fruit growers restore orchards damaged by heavy monsoon flooding, with experts confirming that many horticultural trees can be saved if their roots remain connected to the soil and are treated using proven scientific methods. The initiative, covering Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Dang, and Tapi districts, began on last Friday and is ongoing despite continued rainfall in the region.

What Triggered the Initiative

Acting on directions from Gujarat State Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani, joint teams from the State Horticulture Department and Navsari Agricultural University have been conducting hands-on field demonstrations without waiting for floodwaters to recede. The teams are training farmers directly in their orchards on techniques to minimise long-term crop losses. This comes amid widespread damage to fruit orchards across several South Gujarat districts following exceptionally heavy monsoon rainfall this season.

A Farmer's Proof of Concept

Progressive farmer Mohan Patel of Ghej village in Navsari district said the same scientific approach had already proved its worth after Cyclone Tauktae, when several small and large mango trees in his orchard were uprooted. With guidance from scientists at the Horticulture Department and Navsari Agricultural University, he attempted restoration rather than replanting.

'As a result, nearly 70 to 80 per cent of the uprooted mango trees recovered successfully, and today it is difficult to even identify which trees had once fallen,' Patel said. He urged fellow farmers to adopt scientific methods rather than abandoning flood-damaged trees, noting that orchards represent years of accumulated effort and investment.

Key Restoration Techniques Advised

Dr Ankur Patel, Associate Research Scientist at Navsari Agricultural University, advised farmers against abruptly lifting uprooted saplings, as sudden force can sever roots. Instead, he recommended raising each tree slowly — pausing briefly after partial lifting before continuing until it stands upright. Drooping and overgrown branches should be pruned to reduce the tree's nutrient demand, retaining only a limited number of leaves to allow new shoots to develop.

Pruned surfaces must be treated with a Copper Oxychloride (COC) paste to prevent rotting and encourage fresh growth. For soil and root treatment, Dr Patel cautioned against applying cow dung manure immediately after flooding during the monsoon season. Instead, he recommended mixing 50 grams of Carbendazim powder with one kilogram of vermicompost, turning the mixture for four to five days before applying it around the tree base.

To counter root rot — a common post-flood threat — he advised drenching the soil with a solution of one kilogram of Trichoderma viride and two kilograms of urea dissolved in 200 litres of water, applying one litre per sapling two to three times a month.

Preparing for Future Floods

Dr Patel also stressed the importance of pre-monsoon preparedness, recommending that farmers construct protective bunds at least two feet high around saplings before the rainy season, factoring in the direction of water flow from nearby rivers or streams. Such bunds, he explained, shield young trees from flowing water, provide structural support, and significantly reduce the risk of uprooting during heavy rainfall. Notably, this guidance positions the current crisis as an opportunity to build more resilient orchards ahead of future monsoon seasons.