Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia
Sullia, Apr 30: MP Brijesh Chowta on Wednesday visited arecanut plantations in Guthigaru, Sullia, and gathered information on a special demonstration being carried out under the Central government’s Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture scheme to control the widespread leaf spot disease affecting Dakshina Kannada.
The special initiative is being led by the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI).
The MP, along with CPCRI Kasargod director Dr Balachandra Hebbar, CAMPCO president S R Sathishchandra, and agricultural scientists, visited the plantation of Subrahmanya Prasad in Chanila and nearby arecanut growers’ farms. He obtained detailed information about the nutrient-based and scientific methods being adopted there to control leaf spot disease.
A study on nutrient management and scientific methods is being conducted on a trial basis in a total of six acres of arecanut plantations in Guthigaru village, including one-and-a-half acres belonging to Subrahmanya Prasad, under the guidance of the Vittal regional station of CPCRI.
Since last June, scientific measures have been implemented in these plantations. Continuous monitoring of leaf spot disease affecting arecanut crops, collection of necessary data, and supplementary studies through demonstrations are being carried out periodically.
CPCRI Vittal’s Rajesh, BJP Sullia Mandal president Venkat Valalambe, leaders Venkat Dambekodi and Keshav Bhat Muliya, Guthigaru Cooperative Society president Jayaprakash Mogra, officials from the horticulture department, agricultural scientists, arecanut growers, and local residents accompanied the MP during the visit.
MP Brijesh Chowta said leaf spot disease usually spreads rapidly to arecanut trees through air due to excessive rainfall and moisture. Climate change and increased rainfall are also among the reasons for the widespread incidence of the disease.
In this background, an automatic weather station has been installed in the arecanut plantation of Subrahmanya Prasad for study purposes. This will help analyse rainfall levels, humidity, temperature, and how weather changes contribute to the spread of leaf spot disease, he said.