Andhra Pradesh groundnut production likely to slide

Our Commodities Bureau

Hyderabad, May 16: THE groundnut production in Andhra Pradesh is likely to fall this year in the wake of the spreading of ‘peanut stem necrosis disease’ or ‘bud necrosis’ in major groundnut growing areas in the state.

According to government estimates, about 2.4 hectares of land in the districts of Anantapur and Kurnool, considered to be the major groundnut production centres, has been affected with this dreaded disease. The state government is taking all steps possible to prevent its spread further, sources said.

As part of the drive to prevent crop diseases, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has asked the officials to utilise the audio-visual medium to educate the farmers about the disease and to provide them solutions.

The state government has also engaged scientists from Icrisat and Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University to undertake a detailed study.

The scientists from both the premier institutions are currently touring the affected areas to take stock of the situation and to conduct an in-depth study on bud necrosis, sources say.

The chief minister had also asked the officials to procure groundnut seed from other unaffected and nontraditional areas for sowing. He instructed the officials to take all the necessary steps to prevent the disease and also educate the farmer on the methods of fighting this menace through agricultural extension programmmes.

The state government is also planning to prepare audio-visual content for propagation and extension programmes which will be telecast on the state TV, with the help of C-band. It also plans to utilise the FM radio facility for the purpose, official sources said.