Director of the University of Horticultural Sciences, said that during heavy rainfall farmers must prevent water stagnation.
Bagalkot
The age-old saying that “agriculture in India is a gamble” is proving true yet again as heavy rains wreak havoc on crops in the district. Continuous rainfall has triggered diseases in green gram, raising concerns among farmers that pods ready for harvest may rot.
In paddy fields, seed scattering has caused uneven seedling density, leading to pest infestations and disease outbreaks. Prolonged cloudy weather and waterlogging in fields have worsened the situation. Experts warn that onion crops are particularly vulnerable to fungal and bacterial diseases such as downy mildew, purple spot, and tuber rot.
Dr. Venkateshalu, Extension Director at the University of Horticultural Sciences, advised farmers to thin out excess saplings, ensure proper drainage, and use biological pesticides like Trichoderma and Pseudomonas along with organic manure. He also recommended spraying fungicides such as azoxystrobin or tebuconazole with micronutrients at 10-day intervals to control downy mildew and aphids.
Meanwhile, continuous rain is also delaying the harvest of Neerukalu buddi green gram pods, raising fears that vines and pods could rot if wet conditions persist.