Parsa: Sugarcane crops in Parsa and Bara region have been affected by the red rot resulting in the lowering of income of the farmers in the region, reports Kathmandu Post.
The disease affects every part of the plant above the ground and the inner region of the stem turns reddish. The disease is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum falcatum Went.
Once infected the sugarcane crop loses weight and its quality deteriorates. Farmers are stating that they will not be able to recover even the input costs due to infection of the disease.
The sugar factory should compensate farmers, demanded the Farmers Rights Struggle Committee.
Farmers are rushing for early harvest to prevent infection from the crop. They are selling crops on credit at the price offered by the mills as the government has not yet announced the minimum support price for sugarcane.
The bordering districts are affected by the red rot, said Saharum Raut Gaddi, president of the struggle committee.
