Mysuru: In response to the widespread incidence of downy mildew in maize crops, the district agriculture department has proposed a crop holiday to tackle the recurring disease.The department has submitted a proposal to the agriculture commissioner’s office seeking approval for the measure. Under the proposed crop holiday, farmers may be encouraged to shift to alternative crops, while certain incentives, including the distribution of maize seeds, could be suspended during the period.“A crop holiday is necessary to contain the disease. We have written to the commissioner’s office in this regard,” said KH Ravi, joint director of the agriculture department.Maize, one of the district’s major crops, has been affected by several issues, including downy mildew, leaf blight and fall armyworm infestation.According to the latest agriculture department data, maize sowing has reached 98.4% of the targeted area during the southwest monsoon season, making it one of the most preferred crops among farmers. The crop has been sown on more than 48,726 hectares across the district.Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha Mysuru district general secretary P Marankaiah said downy mildew had been spreading across the district for the past two to three years.“Last year, I suffered heavy losses due to the disease. Therefore, I decided not to cultivate maize this year,” he said.He said maize had gained popularity among farmers because of its relatively low maintenance requirements and favourable returns. However, recurring disease outbreaks and pest attacks were causing significant losses.Farmers said the issue was brought to the attention of district minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah during his recent visit to drought-affected areas.“Many farmers are uprooting infected crops and switching to alternative crops,” said Chandra JS, a farmer from Saragur.Meanwhile, fall armyworm, first detected in maize fields in Shivamogga district in 2018, continues to pose a challenge to growers. However, agriculture department officials said its incidence this year was lower than in previous years.
