DC Kulgam inaugurates awareness prog on “Disease & Pest Mgmt of Various Crops”

Kulgam : The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Dr Bilal Mohi Ud Din Saturday inaugurated an awareness programme on “Disease and Pest Management of Various Crops” at Rest House here.
The programme was organized by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture for the farmers of the district.
While addressing the participants, the DC said that Agriculture is the main source of livelihood and added that the Administration is committed to uplift the farmers of the district.
Moreover, he stressed upon line departments for transfer of Technology at grassroots level and to provide guidance and technical support to the farmers.
During the programme, experts from SKUAST-Kashmir and Department of Agriculture as well as Horticulture delivered lectures on different aspects of Disease and Pest Management.
Chief Agriculture Officer, Sartaj Ahmad during his address to farmers laid thrust on integrative approach for Disease and Pest Management to achieve sustainability in Agriculture.
Farmers were also advised to desist from ruthless use of pesticides and follow the Plant Protection Schedule issued by SKUAST-Kashmir in letter and spirit.
The use of fungicides and insecticides should be minimized and in no case the concentration should be exceeded to avoid out-break of resistant strains biotypes.
Further, it was also stressed that experts of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Horticulture should be consulted for any problem faced by the growers.
Regarding the current scenario of diseases and pests, the following recommendations were put forth by the experts Marssonina Leaf Blotch and Necrotic Leaf Blotch- Zinc Based Fungicide (Propanib @ 300g or Zineb @ 300g or Ziram 78%WP @ 200g) Multinutrient Spray (Zn, Mn, Mg) per 100 Liter of Water. For Alternaria Leaf Blotch- Flusilazole @ 20 ml or Metiram + Pyraclostrobin @ 100g per 100 Liter of Water.
For Aphids- Thiacloprid 21.7 % @ 40 ml or Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 30 ml per 100 Liter of Water can be used.