Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) have proposed a collective action from farmers to control root rot disease of coconut trees vulnerable during the monsoon season. 
University recently discussed the concept Caga to promote and sustain collective action in the neighboring region to the scientific management of disease and preventive action before the monsoon season begins in. Vice Chancellor P. Rajendran Kau said: "The lack of awareness about the disease and the lack of activity management practices is the reason why the disease spread. The disease preventive steps have been done a few farmers but not effective because the coconut trees were planted throughout the state. Therefore, we have proposed a method Caga as durable control ".
Dr. Rajendran said: "Although the outbreak was reported to appear on the coconut tree at the foothills of the mountains and valleys of western Ghats but all the money the state has to defend against the spread width of this disease. "punish studies University has done to show that this disease caused by the fungus Phytophthora palmivora causing more and more serious in the high mountains (50%); followed by the Midlands (30%) and wetlands (10%). The constant rains and strong winds, high relative humidity (near the forest area), now have less sun, and the sky is overcast conditions for the spread of disease coconut tree root rot. At the end of last year, a team of scientists and staff from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Kau has examined the infected coconut and have made the detailed operational analysis. The team also conducted a survey and found that the disease is spreading at alarming levels in the area adjacent to the Western Ghats in the districts of Kannur, Kozhikode and Wayanad.
According to observations, the team stopped lime application, a traditional approach to control the acidity of the soil, as well as reducing the impact of epidemics. The prevention and treatment measures as preventive treatment, controls acidity in the soil, and the application of fertilizers and micronutrients have been proposed. Head of Research at the University of Kau TR Gopalakrishnan said the technology to destroy disease developed by Krishi Vikas Kendra, Kannur has been successfully implemented in the management of disease. This technique involves the use of fungicides such as Mancozeb and bordeaux mixture. The University is dedicated to the establishment of supervisory board consists of agricultural experts, farmers, members of the rural areas, and the sooner technicians coconut to eradicate foot rot disease of coconut and good management of this disease.
Source: APCC - 6/2014
