Mangalore, Dec 23: The Horticulture Department has suggested a two-pronged strategy to Union Government for combating the rampant "Kole roga" (fruit rot disease) that is affecting vast tracts of areca nut plantations, especially those in Malnad and coastal regions of Karnataka. The strategy, to be implemented over three years, includes integrated pest and nutrition management, according to P. Ganeshan, its secretary.
Area affected

In an interaction with presspersons here on Friday, Mr. Ganeshan said, about 82,000 hectares of the1.67 lakh hectares of areca nut plantations had been affected in Shimoga district alone. "We have appraised the Union Government of the ramifications of the disease. A Central team headed by Horticulture Commissioner has surveyed the affected areas," he said.
Minister apprised

"The department has apprised Sharad Pawar, Minister for Agriculture, of the need for appropriate follow-up on the visit of the Central team to the affected areas. We have forwarded a Rs. 42-crore proposal to the Centre in this regard.

The department, meanwhile, has spent Rs. 2.6 crore from the funds of National Horticulture Mission to provide assistance to farmers," Mr. Ganeshan said.

To an appeal by K.P. Sucharitha Shetty, president, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, Mr. Ganeshan said he would take up the matter of compensating the loss suffered by the farmers with the authorities concerned. "We are hopeful that areca nut cooperatives such as CAMPCO will work out strategies to supply copper sulphate required by the farmers to tackle the disease," he added.

Hindu