The Hindu Business Line : Fruit rot disease may affect white arecanut output

Rot’s root
Delay in the onset of monsoon and high price of copper sulphate forced growers to postpone the first round of spraying. Taking into account the production growth, net output may dip 30% this year.

A.J. Vinayak

Mangalore, Aug. 3 A fall in the production of white arecanut to the extent of 40 per cent is likely this year, as most of the plants in the white arecanut-growing areas have been affected by fruit rot disease. When affected by the disease, heavy shedding of tender arecanuts takes place during monsoon.

White arecanut is predominantly grown in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala. Growers in this region opt for spraying of fungicide (copper sulphate solution) to protect their plantations from the disease.

Initial estimates

The major white arecanut-growing centres – Bantwal, Sullia and Puttur taluks in Dakshina Kannada; Kundapur in Udupi district and Kasaragod in Kerala – have been affected by the fruit rot disease. Initial estimates suggest that white arecanut may suffer a production loss of around 40 per cent during the harvesting season.

Normally, growers spray copper sulphate solution on the plant thrice during the flowering season. The first spray begins before the onset of monsoon. Subsequent sprays are given with a gap of 30 to 35 days after the each spray. The spray gives a coating on the tender nut and protects it from rotting.

High cost

This year the delay in the onset of monsoon and the high price of copper sulphate (around Rs 150 a kg) forced the growers to postpone the first round of spraying for a few days.

The incessant rainfall did not allow many growers to take up spraying activities, when they decided to do so. Scarcity of skilled labourers for this activity added to their problems.

Mr M. Srinivasa Achar, President of the All-India Areca Growers’ Association, told Business Line that there could be a shortfall of around 40 per cent in gross production this year. However, the production has been witnessing a growth of around 10 per cent every year due to the expansion in production area. After taking this into account, the net production loss could be in the range of 30 per cent, he said.

“Many growers are completing the first round of copper sulphate spraying, whereas the second round of spraying should have begun by now,” he said.

Mr A.S. Bhat, a grower from Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, said his arecanut plantation had been badly hit by the fruit rot disease. “Going by the present trend, I may witness a production loss of more than 50 per cent this year,” he said.