Muskmelon growers in Doaba region worried as crop hit by fungal disease
JALANDHAR: The muskmelon crop in the region has been damaged by a fungal disease, powdery mildew. Growers in Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts are worried about the huge losses they may incur as a result of this damage.
The crop needs dry weather, but the delay in summer this year coupled with strong winds has led to spread of diseases. Farmers claim that despite spraying insecticides and rooting out the diseased plants, as advised by the district horticulture department, the diseases remain out of control. Horticulture officials say crops in many areas, including Jalandhar, Phillaur, Shahkot, Nakodar and Sultanpur Lodhi, have been damaged while some areas in the Kapurthala district have also borne the brunt.
Horticulture deputy director Satbir Singh confirms that melon crop at the areas near water bodies has contracted fungal and viral diseases.
HAILSTORM, FAKE SEEDS CULPRIT TOO
He says hailstorms, which lashed in some areas on Wednesday, have also damaged the crop. “Moreover, fake seeds are said to be one of the reasons behind the destruction,” he adds.
“The exact loss will be ascertained after a field survey, but the damage may be severe as excess rain affects the quality,” Singh says. Around 3,000-hectare area is under the crop in Jalandhar and 2,000 hectares in Kapurthala.
“Farmers have started rooting out the diseased plants. I had planted crop at four acres, but everything has been damaged,” says Harbans Singh, a farmer from Motipur Khalsa village.
The farmers, who had opted for the crop following instructions of agriculture department to promote crop diversification, are feeling helpless. “As late crop is more prone to diseases, we used more insecticides, which increased our input cost,” says another farmer Teja Singh.