Imphal, February 07 2009: Mass infection by disease and invasion by insects have been detected to the potato cultivation of the farmers at the field at Ishikha pat under the initiative of the Society for People Advancement Manipur (SPAM) with the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) method of farming.

The mass infection and invasion was caused due to the non-treatment of the soils of the fields which has been felt need since the continuous cultivation of potato in the last few years, said the experts of the agriculture office (chemistry) department of agriculture and scientists of the Central Agricultural University (CAU) comprising the IMP team who inspected the fields today.

During the investigation of the experts, insects like While Grub, Cut Warm, etc.

were found inventing the plants apart from infection by the disease like the potato leave curl virus and red blide which could severely affect to the yield of the potato.

The insects and diseases are infecting the potato plants as the soil was not treated as recommended by the experts before planting of the crop, said Ph Rajendro Deputy Director, Agriculture Department who led the inspection team today.

He said, "We had already cautioned the farmers while preparing the soil to treat it so that it could be protected from the insects and diseases but it farmers could not do due to the time constraint." There is no need for worry as the expert team detects the disease before destroying the plants to a great extend.

Commenting on the diseases and insects, assistant prof.Kh Ibohal told the farmers to spray chemical with less toxicity which he recommend.

He said, such kinds of diseases and insects are commonly affected when the same crop are repeatedly planted in the same place continuously.

So, he strongly recommends soil treatment if same kinds of crop are repeated growth in the same field.

Ishikha pat, it could be mention here is one of the best places which potato can be growth successfully with high yield and had become talk of the people of the state in the last around two years.

The farmers got bumper harvest after they applied IPM method of cultivation.

According to SPAM official Hemanta, this year also, under its initiative, the farmers are growing potato in 41 acres of field.

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