Overcoming bacterial wilt in brinjal: An initiative taken by KVK Hailakandi

The Brinjal (Solanummelongena L.), of the family Solanaceae, is a common and popular vegetable crop grown extensively in Hailakandi district and is a major source of income for the small and marginal farmers of the district. It is one of the important vegetable of the district but hardly it contributes to the economy of the farmers. A number of diseases are responsible for low production and productivity of brinjal in the district among which bacterial wilt is the major disease observed that is caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. It is therefore important to adopt suitable biological control strategies to manage it for providing economic security and incentives to the brinjal growers of the district. Thus there remains a need for control methods of bacterial wilt which are more affordable, effective and provide high degree of food safety and minimal environmental impact.

Success_brinjal tilt
Overcoming bacterial wilt in brinjal

In order to have a sustainable management practice against bacterial wilt, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Hailakandi has taken initiative to popularize and showcase the management technology of wilt disease in brinjal by using Biofor Pf -2 (an organic biopesticides developed by Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam that contains beneficial microbes – Pseudomonas fluorescence and Trichodermaharzianum) which increases soil nutrients, rejuvenate soil, enhances plant growth and combat soil borne diseases. During the year 2015-16, KVK Hailakndi has given 06 nos. demonstrations on “Management of bacterial wilt in brinjal by using Biofor-pf 2” at different farmers’ field of the district.  Application of Biofor Pf -2 as seed treatment+ root treatment+ soil application resulted in 49.6 % yield increase of brinjal as compared to farmer’s practice with B: C ratio 2.91:1. After KVK intervention and acceptance of use of Biofor Pf-2 for commercial production of brinjal, farmer’s gross return increased to Rs. 65280.00 with a net profit of Rs. 42880.00 from 0.27 ha (02 bigha) area. Mr. Santosh Koiri, a beneficiary of the demonstration plot from Kun Kun Basti, Lala was very happy on the success of the technology and for the bumper production of his crop. “I am very happy and highly motivated with the performance of the bio agent provided by KVK and planning to adopt this technology to increase production of brinjal in the future also” – reacted Mr. Koiri. Observing his success, other farmers from his village has expressed their interest to adopt this technology in their brinjal cultivation for higher production and consulted KVK for the technological backup and further help.