JOIN USThe Horticulture department is providing tips to farmers to protect coconut crop, which has been affected by pests.
Coconut is grown on 11,375 hectares of land in the district and 26 per cent of the crops have dried. The yield has come down to 50 per cent in 45 per cent of the crop area.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Deputy Director for Horticulture B R Girish said, the trees are
affected due to insufficient rains. “A team of scientists from the University of Agricultural
Sciences, Bangalore, accompanied by horticulture director and officials, have analysed the problem and have suggested some technical solutions to the problem,” he said.
Some of the suggestions is to take up inter-cropping in coconut farms, digging pits to harvest rainwater and trenchs at an interval of 60 to 100 ft. Dried parts of the trees should be removed periodically. Each tree should be given one kilo of potash and half kilo magnesium sulphate along with one or two kg compost.
Drip irrigation facility should be adopted wherever possible.
Horsegram, cow pea and other pulses can be grown as inter-crop, based on the moisture content of the soil.
The farmers can contact experts in the Horticulture department to prevent pests.