Hundreds of figs growers in Purandar township, which is famous for ‘anjir’ and custard apple in the state, are in trouble due to incessant rains. Fig or ‘anjir’ plantations spread over 240 ha in Purandar township. The harvest season of the fruit had begun last month and most plantations that are at the harvesting stage have been badly affected. According to growers, they will have to increase expenditures to spray pesticides and meet expenses to save the remaining harvest.
Yuvraj Balgude, a plant pathologist working at Purandar taluka’s fig and guava research centre, said the existing weather conditions are favourable for rust disease which can spread fast in plantations.
According to another agriculture scientists, farmers and growers have been advised to apply pesticides to control the disease to some extent.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com