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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Spices Board scientists identify Cardamom blight, revival appears possible now

GANGTOK, 22 Nov: Scientists at Spices Board have finally identified the disease that has caused the sharp decline in large cardamom production in the State. In the last four to five years, cardamom production in the state spiralled down substantially due to a fungal disease that attacked plantations compelling farmers to switch to other crops, informs a press release.

According to Deputy Director (Research), Dr. Utpal Gupta, a group of scientists at Spices Board were engaged in a research experiment and have been successful in identifying the fungal disease that attacks cardamom as ‘Collectrotichum’, also known as blight.
The research was carried out at the Spices Board research farm at Pangthang and Kabi, the release informs.
Dr. Gupta informed that Pacouldomonas and Bacillus are the pesticides that can be used at the rate 5% in the initial stage when symptoms of the disease are seen. The pesticide is to be applied 5 times at 15-day intervals, he further informed.
According to the release, Dr. Gupta expressed hope that with this finding, there are chances of rejuvenating cardamom farming in the state. At present cardamom farming is done in 12,500 hectare and about 2000 MT cardamom is produced every year.
On 16 November an auction for cardamom was conducted at Rangpo where the farmers got Rs.871 per kg, the release adds. [from DB RAI]

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