Kohima: Farmers in Nagaland's Longleng district have successfully reduced ginger rhizome rot by adopting a biological disease management technique developed by the ICAR Research Complex. The initiative addresses a persistent fungal infection caused by Pythium species, which has historically led to significant crop decay and yield losses for local growers.
Subject Matter Specialist Shubhendu Kumar Behera led a Front Line Demonstration at the farm of D. Lochumlo in Orangkong village. The new approach replaces limited traditional methods with a three-part biological treatment. This includes treating seed rhizomes with Trichoderma harzianum, applying a mixture of Trichoderma harzianum and farmyard manure to the soil before planting, and using a foliar application of Pseudomonas fluorescens throughout the growing season.
Scientific monitoring conducted by Behera, Dr. Kalu Ram, and Dr. Avaneesh Kumar showed that the treated crops exhibited more vigorous growth, improved tillering, and significantly lower disease rates compared to neighboring fields using standard practices. By fostering better soil microbial activity, the system resulted in larger, healthier rhizomes and higher market quality at harvest.
Reflecting on the success of the program, Lochumlo said the technology and continuous technical support provided by Behera played a crucial role in successfully managing rhizome rot disease. Following these results, the farmer plans to continue using the integrated method and advocate for its use among other local producers to improve overall agricultural profitability in the region.
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