State level training programme on

“Integrated Pest and disease management in major spice crops of Goa”

On

20th April 2011

State level training programme on Pest and Disease Management of major spice crops of Goa was inaugurated on 20^th April, 2011 at ICAR Research Complex for Goa.

Shri Pratapsingh Rane, Honorable Speaker Government of Goa, presided the function and Shri. Shripad Naik Honorable MP (North Goa) was the chief guest.

In the Welcome address, Dr. N. P. Singh, Director, ICAR Research Complex for Goa highlighted the importance of Spice crops in Goa and the loss caused by incidence of diseases. He emphasized the use of bio control agents in the management of Spice diseases as other methods don’t prove effective.

In his presidential address, Shri. Pratapsingh Rane said that Goans grow spices traditionally in the areca nut gardens. He said the pest and diseases need to be managed to get economic yield and suggested that pepper may be grown as sole crop. He emphasized that complete calendar of operations for black pepper cultivation need to be developed and disseminated among the farmers.

Shri. Madhav Sahakari, M.D. Goa Dairy shared his experience in spice cultivation and suggested that bio agents can be an integral part of the organic certification.

Shri. Shripad Naik, MP, North Goa congratulated ICAR Research Complex for Goa or doing need based programmes for the farmers. He suggested that Government Institutions should help the farmers to get profit from farming. Dr. R. Ramesh, Senior Scientist (Plant Pathology) and the coordinator of the training programme proposed vote of thanks.

 In the technical session, scientists from Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut delivered talks on the management of diseases, insect pests and nematodes in important spice crops. A film on the diseases of black pepper and their management was shown to the farmers. In one of the sessions, the status and scope of spice crop cultivation in Goa was discussed. Over seventy five farmers from across the state and nine agricultural officers from the state department of agriculture participated in the programme.

Lot of discussion was taken place on the incidence and management practices in pepper foot rot and quick wilt caused by a fungus Phytophtohora capsici. The experts informed the farmers that the pepper crop should be protected right from the beginning i.e. from the nursery by different strategies like soil solarization, addition of biocontrol agents, regulation of shade and application of fungicides. Once foot rot infection takes place, it would be very difficult to control this disease. During discussions, farmers interacted with the scientists on various aspects of disease management. It is suggested that wherever new pepper plantations are coming up the disease management practices should be followed since beginning. Farmers agreed to take the technical support of ICAR in developing new plantations as demonstration units. Farmers are advised to approach the research institute nearer to their locality for proper diagnosis of the problem as this is very vital to decide the management strategies.