Srinagar, Aug. 5 -- More young couples are struggling to conceive. Women are reporting irregular menstrual cycles, early menopause, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Similarly, men are undergoing fertility testing. Clinics across the Valley are seeing rising numbers of such cases. The pattern is becoming difficult to ignore.

One key factor that has been found to enable this trend is the sharp increase in the use of chemical sprays in orchards. A decade ago, farmers typically used a few basic treatments. Today, many orchards receive up to 20 chemical applications a season, including plant growth regulators (PGRs) and systemic pesticides. These are not only stronger but also more harmful. Some are known to interfere with human hormones and ha...