In some areas of Canacona paddy cultivation has beenaffected by Rice Blast, one of the most common disease affecting paddy crops.
Farmers from places like Gaodongirim, Poinguinnim and Kholacomplained of Rice Blast infection to their crop.
“A few places in Canacona have been affected by thedisease,” confirmed Shivram Gaonkar, Zonal Agricultural Officer at Canacona. Hesaid that it was one of the common diseases that often attack the cropparticularly in its initial stages.
The ZAO official informed that the infection appears due tosudden change in weather conditions and paddy crop close to hilly areas getsmostly affected.
“The dry spell has affected rice crops in most of the hillyareas in the taluka and need at least two to three heavy showers. Otherwisethere is every possibility of chaffy seeds,” Goankar said.
Other crops like Khola chilly and cucumber will also be affectedif the dry spell continued and there is fear that farmers may lose the yield,he added.
On receiving complaints from farmers, ZAO had advised themto treat the affected crops with fungicide. The farmers have reported at least25% improvement in the crop after the treatment, the official informed.
Another traditional farmer Jorgo Velip from Gulem reportedthat due to dry spell in September some vegetables were showing signs ofdecline. “Mostly the fruit gets rotten and then drops off from the tree,” hesaid.
Several areca nut farmers from Poinguinnim and Loliem havealso complained of losing fruits prematurely.
Some progressive farmers like Govind Prabhugaonkar fromMahal-wada Poinginium have demanded that the government should compensate themfor the losses.
Prabhugaonkar, who has around one hectare of land underareca nut cultivation, said that about 60-65 per cent of the areca nut crop hasbeen affected by a peculiar type of fungus, causing premature dropping of nuts.
