The stall that attracted most number of farmers in ‘Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Mela’ was the one on plant diseases and insects clearing indicating that even in the times of genetically modified seeds and high-tech farming, insects remain the biggest challenge for the farmers.
“There is a certain kind of cylindrical-shaped insect which has been infecting my crops for a couple of years now. I have used various pesticides but in vain,” said Arun Bhadra, a farmer from Raipur who grows lotus for its flowers and stem. He was participating in a four-day National Agricultural Science Fair that concluded in the city on Tuesday.
Bhadra talked to the students of agricultural college who heard his problems and suggested possible solutions. “There are hundreds of bacterial and insect-based diseases that can wipe out up to 60 percent of a crop,” said lokesh Taran, MSc previous year student of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University. It is very necessary to keep a check on crops and stop a disease at an early stage.
Agricultural experts and students interacted with farmers and suggested them pesticides and other measures to win over the crop diseases. “From paddy producer to turmeric cultivator, every farmer struggles to keep his crop healthy and disease-free,” said Taran. Talking about prevention of crop diseases, Arvind Saxena of National Institute of Biotic Stress Management said more than half of the problem could be addressed if farmers sow seeds at a right time, supply manure in the right quantity and water the plants according to the need.
He also insisted the farmers on getting a soil test of their fields before they sow seeds, choose manure, pesticide or change crop.