MP Brijesh Chowta reviewed scientific efforts to control arecanut leaf spot disease in Sullia plantations.
Sullia
The Brijesh Chowta visited arecanut plantations in Guthigaru, Sullia, to review ongoing measures aimed at controlling the spread of leaf spot disease affecting crops in the region.
The visit focused on a demonstration project being carried out under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, which is working to address the widespread impact of the disease on arecanut farmers in Dakshina Kannada district.
The initiative is being implemented by the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute in collaboration with regional agricultural experts. Scientists are testing nutrient-based and scientific methods to control the disease in selected plantation areas.
During the visit, Chowta, along with agricultural scientists and local stakeholders, inspected trial plantations in Guthigaru village. The study currently covers about six acres of arecanut cultivation, including plots where controlled interventions have been ongoing since June last year.
Officials said continuous monitoring, data collection, and field demonstrations are being carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of disease management strategies. An automatic weather station has also been installed in one of the plantations to study environmental factors such as rainfall, humidity, and temperature.
Experts believe that excessive rainfall, high humidity, and changing climate patterns are contributing to the rapid spread of leaf spot disease through air-borne transmission. The research aims to develop long-term solutions that can reduce crop losses for farmers.
Local agricultural officials, cooperative society representatives, scientists, and farmers accompanied the MP during the visit, highlighting the collaborative effort between government bodies, research institutions, and the farming community to address the agricultural challenge.