December 30, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 6, 1424

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RAHIM YAR KHAN, Dec 29: Mango, which is found in abundance in the district, is facing a real threat of “quick decline,” a disease that originates from the shisham plant.

The disease makes a mango tree dry and the fruit changes its colour to golden within weeks.

District Agriculture Officer Sardar Akbar Khan, who is also the project in-charge of the mango garden production, told Dawn that the disease, known in technical terminology as “Fuzarium Solany,” spread in the mango trees due to a fungus. It first affected the roots to the tree and then the food supply to the plant was stopped.

Subsequently, he said, the branches of the tree began turning dry and stems oozed gum. “If there is any wound on the stem, the fungus also enters the tree.”

He said the farmers, not knowing the actual cause of disease, cut the tree as soon as it started drying. “We are educating the farmers on the causes and how to control the disease,” the official said.

He suggested that farmers should first improve the irrigation system and then ensure that there was no water beneath a tree. Then there was chemical treatment through soil and sight-specific treatment on plants (using pesticides through proper paste) and by using fungicides.

He advised the mango growers to cut the affected branches and paste pesticides on the stem after peeling off its skin to save the plant.

The department, Mr Khan said, was working on the development of mango by which farmers were getting new information about getting maximum fruit. “Pakistan earns $8.87 million by mango export and the district has a significant share in it,” he said, urging the government to utilize its resources to save the product.