Borjhar, Dec. 2: The production of Khasi mandarin, an orange variety grown in Boko in Kamrup district of lower Assam, is down by 40 per cent because of multiple diseases.
Ajit Kalita, the sub-divisional agriculture officer of Boko agriculture subdivision, told The Telegraph that the output had been affected in three blocks, Chhaygaon, Boko and Bongaon. "Oranges cultivated in 1,300 hectares have already been damaged because of the disease," he said.
Meghalaya is famous for Khasi mandarin ( Citrus reticulata) but the fruit is also grown in parts of Assam. It is cultivated on 3,226 hectares in the Boko agriculture subdivision.
Agriculture development officer Pankaj Kumar Mazumdar said the normal annual output of the area is about 6,030 metric tonnes of which 40 per cent has declined.
"This has been happening since the past year," he added.
Sarat Saikia, chief scientist of Horticulture Research Station, Kahikuchi, Assam Agriculture University, said failure on the part of cultivators to adopt optimum management practices to ensure longevity had led to the citrus fruit tree being afflicted by multiple diseases.
"Both nutrient management and insect and pest management practices are not adequately adopted," Saikia said, adding that water supply in February and March is of utmost importance for survival of the plant.
"This variety of orange is the pride of the nation as far as taste is concerned and intensive management for restoring and augmenting the productivity of the plant is imperative," N.K. Mazumdar, principal scientist of the research station, said.
"It is a common disease, which takes a turn for the worse if the garden is not well managed. Proper management of the garden and maintaining cultural (agricultural) practices is an effective measure to keep the disease at bay," Mazumdar said.
Saikia emphasised on planting good quality material and adopting recommended measures for maximum output.
The scientist insisted on upgrade of knowledge and capacity building of growers, including resource creation, in areas under orange cultivation.
