LUCKNOW: At a time when a "banana emergency" has been declared in Columbia and other Latin American countries, parts of Asia, Africa and Australia, with the crop struck with a deadly disease that leads to wilting of the banana plant dangerously, the Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) here has come up with a bio-formulant to save the crop.
The disease "fusarium oxysporum TR4" or Panama Wilt is causing havoc for banana crop in these countries.
"The bio-formulant - ICAR fusicont -- is a mix fungi and bacteria that has succeeded in fighting the deadly disease known as Panama wilt 4, which could be of immense value in saving the largest crop in several countries," CISH director Shailendra Rajan told TOI after a two- day deliberation in Malihabad.
With the crop area reaching 92 lakh hectares by last year, banana has been the most expanding crop of Uttar Pradesh which is threatening to overtake other states like Maharashtra, Bihar and West Bengal in terms of acerage and farmers evincing their interest in it. In terms of size, shape, weight and shelf value, banana of Uttar Pradesh is in high demand in other states.
But in the last few years, a fungal disease has quietly gripped the crop in eastern UP - Gorakhpur, Kushinagar and other places in Bihar's Katihar and destroyed the crop to a large extent. Rajan said the disease creeped into UP farms through the Ghaghra, Gandak and Kosi rivers from Nepal and silently destroyed the crop, causing panic among banana cultivators. The disease is so challenging that once it grips a plant/crop, it is nearly impossible to be eradicate, said Rajan.
It attacks roots and blocks the plant's vascular system. Like other soil-dwelling strains, TR4 cannot be controlled using fungicides and fumigants, he added.
Spot inspection and laboratory tests and two-year-long investigations confirmed that it is the same "fusarium" epidemic which has led to the declaration of "banana emergency" in the Latin American countries and farmers in Asia, Africa and Australian continents were also struggling against this. " After Centre's nod, CISH will get into commercial production on PPP model," he said.
The disease "fusarium oxysporum TR4" or Panama Wilt is causing havoc for banana crop in these countries.
"The bio-formulant - ICAR fusicont -- is a mix fungi and bacteria that has succeeded in fighting the deadly disease known as Panama wilt 4, which could be of immense value in saving the largest crop in several countries," CISH director Shailendra Rajan told TOI after a two- day deliberation in Malihabad.
With the crop area reaching 92 lakh hectares by last year, banana has been the most expanding crop of Uttar Pradesh which is threatening to overtake other states like Maharashtra, Bihar and West Bengal in terms of acerage and farmers evincing their interest in it. In terms of size, shape, weight and shelf value, banana of Uttar Pradesh is in high demand in other states.
But in the last few years, a fungal disease has quietly gripped the crop in eastern UP - Gorakhpur, Kushinagar and other places in Bihar's Katihar and destroyed the crop to a large extent. Rajan said the disease creeped into UP farms through the Ghaghra, Gandak and Kosi rivers from Nepal and silently destroyed the crop, causing panic among banana cultivators. The disease is so challenging that once it grips a plant/crop, it is nearly impossible to be eradicate, said Rajan.
It attacks roots and blocks the plant's vascular system. Like other soil-dwelling strains, TR4 cannot be controlled using fungicides and fumigants, he added.
Spot inspection and laboratory tests and two-year-long investigations confirmed that it is the same "fusarium" epidemic which has led to the declaration of "banana emergency" in the Latin American countries and farmers in Asia, Africa and Australian continents were also struggling against this. " After Centre's nod, CISH will get into commercial production on PPP model," he said.
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