(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey in regard to damage caused by Sigatoka
disease to banana crop in the country particularly in Maharashtra;
(b) if so, the details of estimated loss suffered by the banana producing farmers;
(c) whether the Government proposes to give some financial aid to the farmers for the
damage caused by the said disease to their crops; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE(SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a)&(b): A team comprising Officers from Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine &
Storage, (DPPQ&S) Faridabad; Central Integrated Plant Management Centres, Nagpur, a sub office
of the DPPQ&S, Horticulturist, Banana Research station, ICAR, Jalgaon, and an officer from State
Agriculture Department, Maharashtra was constituted to survey the disease affected areas and
assess the loss caused by the disease, in consultation with the Director of Horticulture,
Government of Maharashtra.
(b): The team has reported that the older plantation is more severely attacked by the
disease.The damage in young plantation is 10 to 15 %. Mahalaxmi variety seems to be more
susceptible, where higher damage was observed.
(c)&(d): Under State Plant Protection Scheme, grant of Rs.21 lakh has been released to
A.D.O., Zilla Parishad, Jalgaon, for supply of recommended fungicides on 50% subsidy at block
level to the farmers.The Government of India as well as the State are taking appropriate
measures for protecting the Banana crop including widespread dissemination of information on
the disease, its management and corrective action.