Rubber to be tested with Indian fungicide

Sri Lankan authorities will be testing a fungicide from India to ascertain if it could be used on the local rubber plantations in a bid to overcome the pesta disease.

Following a workshop in India and understanding how they had contained the disease with another fungicide, Sri Lanka has already made plans to get samples from India to test them here, Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL) Principal Plant Pathologist and Head of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology Dr. Sarojini Fernando told the Business Times.

She noted that though it had been identified as pesta disease they have been able to observe two microorganisms.

In the meantime, during this time of year there is a general leaf fall noticed in mid-November and the disease is also at its peak.

She pointed out that while all other agronomic practices have been dropped it has contributed to production drop.

Commenting on the costs involved, she explained that the Rubber Department is assisting the small growers.

“Our growers they just tap the plant exploiting it (without also nourishing it,” Dr. Fernando said noting that this is causing a long term stress on the plant as a result of which the plant becomes weak.

The RRISL has requested for 500 kg of the Indian fungicide to be tested in Sri Lanka which they hope to receive before February.

Dr. Fernando requested growers to ensure that besides applying fungicides and medicines all other practices applied to the plant need to be carried out like the application of fertiliser and weeding and field sanitation.