Srinagar, March 21 -- Kashmir's run of warm, dry winters is now hitting its apple economy at a new pressure point-nurseries-where saplings are going unsold as farmers delay planting.

In Qaimoh in south Kashmir's Kulgam district, rows of grafted apple saplings are still waiting in nursery beds, weeks after they should have been planted across the Valley.

"We usually sell most of our stock by the first week of March," said Zahid Salam, a 33-year-old nursery owner who has spent the last decade cultivating apple saplings on family land in Qaimoh.

As he walked between rows of grafted plants, he paused to examine a young sapling before adding, "But this year nearly 20-30% of the plants are still here. Farmers are waiting for rainfall before ...