Our Correspondent
Imphal, Nov.7 (EMN): A combined team of experts from department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation and Plant Health Clinic, Tamenglong and Noney districts have detected presence of different pests at the orange farms of Nungba sub-division in Noney district.
The pests were detected during a recent field visit to villages of Padan, Noney, Chumla, Nungba and Mukti Khullen in Nungba sub-division by a combined team of experts following complaints from farmers regarding the occurrence of pest and citrus diseases.
During the visit, the experts confirmed the presence of pests like citrus stem borer, leaf miner, fruit sucking moth and stink bugs and citrus diseases like pink disease of citrus, sooty mould, citrus canker, lichens. The experts distributed pesticides such as rocker sprayer, plantomycin, fipronil, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, adjuvant/sticker, copper oxy-chloride, sulphur fungicide, etc.
According to Tamenglong District Horticulture Officer, Chungong Pamei, an expert team visited Mukti Khullen in Noney district and found the presence of pest and citrus diseases and conducted demonstrations for the farmers and their workers on use of pesticides to control the pests and diseases.
“We also educated the farmers of precautionary measures and the Integrated Nutrient Management and provided toolkits, farm equipment, insecticides, etc,” he said, while informing that the team will continue to closely monitor it for another week after spraying the pesticides and insecticides to check for results.
The department is promoting Tamenglong Orange, which has already been granted Geographical Indication (GI), he said, adding that the department is also implementing citrus rejuvenation and area expansion.
During the inspection, the team visited three villages where there are about 3000 orange trees, he said, adding that production this year would not be less than 30 metric tons.
On the other hand, Joyson Kamei, an orange farmer who is guiding the expert team, said that they had taken up orange plantation in their village falling under Nungba since 2015-16.
“This year, we witnessed certain issues including pest attacks and citrus diseases and so we submitted a report from the farmers to the Director of Horticulture and Soil Testing through the Plant Health Clinic and sought expert assistance and remedial action,” he said, and expressed concern that without timely control the pest and disease could spread to other areas and that it would be an unproductive season. He also thanked the Manipur government, director, officials and teams of the Plant Health Clinic and district officials for their fast and timely intervention.