‘Mar’ disease hits cotton crop in Maharashtra, India

Cotton crop in some parts of Maharashtra is likely to get affected by ‘Mar’ disease, according to Ministry of Agriculture.

 

Cotton wilt is caused by Fusarium oxysporum fungus locally known as Mar disease of cotton.

 

As per information provided by the Commissionerate of Agriculture, Pune, Government of Maharashtra, about 18,000 hectares in Amalner, Parola and Chopra tehsils of Jalgaon district is affected by Cotton wilt (‘Mar’).

 

In Dhule, 8,560 hectares area is affected by this disease, which is 3.74% of the total area under cotton in that district.

 

Government of Maharashtra is keeping a vigil through the Crop Pest Surveillance and Advisory Project (CROPSAP) on the disease in Cotton in the State.

 

The incidence of this disease was found to be at trace level, i.e. below the Economic Threshold Level (ETL).

 

Since the intensity of the disease was found to be below ETL, therefore no significant losses are likely to accrue to farmers. Government of Maharashtra is maintaining vigil on this disease through CROPSAP. No proposal for financial assistance on account of Cotton wilt has been received from the State Government in the Ministry of Agriculture.