Officers of the Agriculture Division visited maize farms affected by fungal an infection, at Kattaya in Hassan taluk lately.
| Photograph Credit score: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The maize growers of Hassan are apprehensive about safeguarding their crop from the downy mildew, a fungal an infection, generally often called bili-suli. The leaves develop white fungal development, and with that development of the plant stops.
In accordance with preliminary estimation, the crop grown in over 8,000 hectares in Hassan has been affected by the illness. The measures to deal with its unfold haven’t been profitable, because the local weather is conducive for the an infection. The illness has been reported in Periyapatna and H.D. Kote of Mysuru district as effectively, in line with officers.
Maize is likely one of the main crops in Hassan. A majority of small and marginal farmers domesticate this roughly 120-day crop each in kharif and rabi seasons. By spending about ₹15,000 to ₹18,000, they rise up to 22 quintals of yield.
Given the prevailing price available in the market, which is about ₹2,200 a quintal, they’re certain of excellent returns. “This time we could have zero returns. The contaminated vegetation don’t develop, and there might be no corn. The cash spent on seeds, sowing operation, and fertiliser go to waste,” mentioned Vijay, a farmer at Kattaya in Hassan taluk.
Hassan Lok Sabha member Shreyas M. Patel held a gathering with officers concerning the problem on Monday. He instructed them to unfold consciousness among the many farmers on measures to keep away from the an infection. The officers of the Agriculture Division visited the fields and interacted with farmers.
P. Ramesh Kumar, Joint Director of Agriculture, advised The Hindu that the fungal an infection was usually both a seed-borne or soil-borne illness. Nonetheless, a majority of farmers used handled seeds. “The illness could possibly be soil-borne too. If fungus stays within the floor for a number of years, it grows when there’s a congenial surroundings. This time, we now have stories of an infection in about 8,000 hectares,” he mentioned.
The officer felt that steady cultivation of the identical crop could possibly be one of many causes for the illness. “In Hassan, a majority of farmers domesticate maize repeatedly. They develop the identical crop for rabi and kharif as effectively. Possibly as a result of the farmers are assured of returns, not like in different crops,” he opined.
The officers have been suggesting appropriate medicines to farmers.
Revealed – June 10, 2025 08:49 pm IST
