Potato growers have a reason to cheer this year. It has
been 60 to 70 days since sowing of seed potatoes began and so far, there
have been no reports of late blight, a fungal infection that affects
potato crops, anywhere in the district. Also, chances of the potato
attracting late blight at this stage are rare.
This
year, potato has been cultivated on around 10,000 hectares of land in
the district. The crop has been in a good state all over the district,
prompting farmers to hope for good returns. “As the crop has survived
for 60 days, there are no chances of late blight again this year,” A.B.
Sanjay, Deputy Director of Horticulture Department, told
The Hindu
recently.
The climate, this year, has been helpful.
As there was no incessant downpour for days, the late blight could not
spread. “Growers have to be thankful for the climate. If there was a
continuous downpour in July, there were chances of the occurrence of
late blight this year too,” the officer said.
The
Horticulture Department had procured 2,035 tonnes of certified seeds
from Jalandhar and sold them to the farmers at a subsidised price. About
the yield in the farms where certified seeds were sown, the tubers are
uniform. On the other hand, over 9,000 tonnes of non-certified seeds
were also sold in the district. “Going by the yield this year, a good
number of farmers may shift to potato next year,” the officer said.
Farmers
of Hassan have been growing potato for years. In the recent years, the
area covered by potato declined owing to late blight disease.
This year, potato
has been cultivated on around 10,000 hectares in
Hassan district
Source : The Hindu
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