Millet crop in Kaski at risk as root rot disease spreads

Farmers in Lower Sidhane of Pokhara-23 in Kaski are staring at a around 70 percent drop in millet production due to stem and root rot disease.  Sidhane is considered a pocket area for millet production in Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Local farmers are worried as the disease has begun to affect production in this key growing region. 

After observing the disease's impact in Sidhane, a technical team from Pokhara Metropolitan City Office collected samples for testing at the Crop Protection Laboratory. Manohar Kadariya, chief of the Agriculture Division at Pokhara Metropolitan City Office, confirmed that the tests identified stem and root rot disease.

Farmers are expecting a huge loss this season as the problem has appeared in the grain filling phase. In Lower Sidhane alone, millet is cultivated on over 45 ropani (about 2.3 hectares) of land. Ishwar Ghale, the secretary of the Ward 23 Agricultural Alliance, said production is expected to drop by over 70 percent.

Lower Sidhane used to grow 4-45 muris (nearly three tons) of millets every year.  Durga Gurung, a local farmer, said that while 9 ropani (about 0.46 hectares) of land typically yielded 10 muris (about 670 kg) of millet, the current disease outbreak has led to a situation where they may not even recover seeds. Lok Bahadur Gurung, chairman of the Agricultural Network, said that the disease has also been observed in Upper Sidhane and other areas.

Manhar Kadariya advised farmers on non-chemical control methods, including adjusting planting distances, using agricultural lime based on soil test results and increasing organic fertilizer use. Kadariya also said that the metropolis was mulling over testing Bavistin fungicide in some areas to control disease outbreak this year.

“To conduct further study on the problem seen in millet cultivation, we plan to organize a technology demonstration on one ropani (about 0.05 hectares) of land and transferring technical knowledge to local farmers,” Kadariya said. “Discussions are ongoing between local farmer groups, networks, and agricultural technicians to implement this program.”

Since Lower Sidhane lies in the upper watershed area of the Fewa Lake, millet cultivation here is not only making local farmers become self-sufficient but also playing a crucial role in preventing soil erosion. Despite having multiple benefits, the cultivation of millet is on the decline in Nepal. It covers only 7.7 percent of the total food crop area in the country. About 95 percent of millet cultivation areas lie in the hilly regions. Millet is grown in areas ranging from the Terai to altitudes of up to 3,100 meters.

According to Kadariya, millet makes a significant contribution to food and nutritional security in the country. Traditionally, millet is used to make dheedo (a staple dish) in hilly areas, bread, alcohol and animal feed. It also holds cultural significance among indigenous communities in Nepal. Millet is a rich source of calcium and phosphorus, making it an ideal food for pregnant women. It also has benefits for diabetic patients, he added.