It’s been years now since late blight, a fungal plant disease began attacking potato crop in Dangkhar in Zhemgang. The situation is at its worst this time, so much so that farmers fear they would have nothing to harvest.
Late blight is known to be the worst potato disease. It causes rapid watery rot of leaves, which soon wither and turn brown. It also affects the stems and tubers. The disease can affect the crop at any stage of development.
“It’s been seven years since the disease affected our potatoes,” Yeshi from Dangkhar said. “We have reported to the agriculture officials. The disease is wiping out the crop and causing us huge losses.”
Tawmo, another villager, said potato is their only cash crop and the disease has become a serious threat to their livelihood. “It spreads rapidly, destroying the whole field within three days to one week.”
Many of them took loans from banks for potato cultivation and with the disease reducing the crop yield, farmers are afraid they may not be able to pay back their loans.
Farmers said the white potatoes are more resistant to the disease than the red ones, but the white ones do not fetch attractive prices in the market. Also, because of the disease, the potatoes are as tiny as marbles.
Dzongkhag agriculture officials said apart from chemicals, they are yet to find other solution.
