Sangareddy: Tadkal farmers counter Bengal Gram wilt disease using bio-agent

Hyderabad: A small intervention by farmers in Tadkal and neighbouring villages in Sangareddy in countering wilt disease on Bengal Gram crop is helping them reap good profits. Local Agricultural Extension Officer (AEO) G Santosh thoroughly studied the impact of wilt disease on the crop in the villages and recommended use of Trichoderma viride bio-agent. During […]

Hyderabad: A small intervention by farmers in Tadkal and neighbouring villages in Sangareddy in countering wilt disease on Bengal Gram crop is helping them reap good profits. Local Agricultural Extension Officer (AEO) G Santosh thoroughly studied the impact of wilt disease on the crop in the villages and recommended use of Trichoderma viride bio-agent.

During 2020 Yasangi season, Mochi Pandari, a farmer from Tadkal village in Kangti mandal of Sangareddy had cultivated Bengal Gram in his farm land spread over three acres. However, he was worried about the wilt disease attack on the crop. Following AEO Santosh’s suggestion, he treated Bengal gram seed with Trichoderma viride bio-agent and reaped good profits. He saved 1.5 quintals of crop yield and this is about Rs 6,000 benefits per acre and the cumulative savings were Rs 18, 000 for three acres.

Buoyed with the success of pilot project, Pandari has now decided to treat the Bengal Gram seeds with Trichoderma viride bio-agent before sowing in the 2021 Yasangi season.

Like Pandari, a few other farmers in Chamta B and Chamta K villages also treated the seeds with bio-agent and successfully controlled the wilt disease attack on the crop. Farmers in Tadkal cluster are now working to cultivate Bengal Gram in about 500 acres, besides treating the seeds with Trichoderma viride bio-agent.

Though, the bio-agent does not aid in increasing the yield, it would effectively control wilt disease and curb losses. It is affordable and available easily in the market, said Santosh. Trichoderma viride costs about Rs 30 to 40 per 250 grams pack. One pack is sufficient for treatment of seeds to be sown in one acre. A meager Rs 30 investment will help in saving crop losses of one to two quintals yield, he explained.

Symptoms of wilt disease

• Disease can affect the crop at any stage
• Field symptoms of wilt are dead seedlings or adult plants, usually in patches
• At seedling stage, 3-5 weeks after sowing, whole seedlings collapse
• Dark brown or dark discoloration of the internal stem tissues
• At adult stage, drooping of petioles and leaflets

Seed treatment and management

The wilt disease in Bengal Gram can be managed only by taking preventive control measures like seed treatment with Trichoderma viride. About 10 grams of this bio-agent powder can be used for treating a kg of seeds. Water and jaggery should be boiled together to form a syrup.

This syrup should be applied on the seeds and they have to be dried in shade for about 30 minutes. The seeds will now be ready for sowing, explains AEO Santosh.

“Farmers are very happy with the outcome of treating the seeds with Trichoderma viride. Live demonstrations were organized for them on the treatment and this year more such demonstrations are being planned,” said Santosh.

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