Rice Blast

Back to Office Report of our tour to Hesokha, under Gase Tshowom




Submitted by: Sangay Wangdi
Farming Systems
Tshering Wangchen
Field Crops





Upon the submission of field inspection report on rice blast at Hesokha by the Gewog Extension Agent, a surveillance visit was carried out on the 6th of October 2010 in order to understand the ground reality and find solutions to the problem.
Complete field inspection was carried out to find out the problems. The day long tour covered all the areas that were reported to be infested by rice blast.

Sr No Person involved Sectors
1 Mr. Sangay Wangdi Farming Systems
2 Tshering Wangchen Field Crops

The problems of the reported locality were found to be severe and since the crops have already crossed dough stage and are almost ready to harvest. It is too late to act this year. The varieties under cultivation are as follows and the status of the disease is also given below.

Location Beneficiaries Area (Acres) Variety Years under cultivation Damage
Severity
Hesokha 8 50 Khangma Maap 11 heavy
Tongchekha 3 15 Khangma Maap 2 Not seen
Tonglopji 9 30 Toebikachum - Slight
Shatsokha 2 1.3 Selikachum 4 Heavy
Total 22 96.30
Table reference: AEO, Gasetshowom

Rice Blast


Rice blast is one of the most important diseases of rice and occurs in all the rice growing areas. Infection is more likely after long periods of rain or high humidity with little or no wind movements. And since Hesokha frequently receives heavy rain and remains moist most of the time and as far as our understanding goes, this year we received heavy rain which provided optimum conditions for disease development. Besides most of the fields are covered by dense vegetations which further ignites the mycelium.

Recommendations:
The crop was too late for chemical control this year. As prophylaxis the farmers were advised to change their infected seeds in the coming season. The farmers demanded the seeds either from the Dzongkhag or the Research Centre to which we suggested community based seed production techniques. Since the fields were heavily infected, we also felt the need to change their seed and the lists of individual households in Hesokha are given below.
1. Yangka
2. Kinley Pem
3. Kinley Om (Chipon)
4. Phub Zam
5. Kinlay Dem
6. Sangchum
7. Jang Bhuthri
8. Chathem
9. Sutu
10. Sangay Dem
11. Khandu Om
12. Chimi
Although not promised we suggested that we can look for possibilities to supply them some seeds and then the community can multiply the seeds after that. The farmers were also told that training on seed treatment with expertise from Bajo will also be given but for that to happen; the extension agent must follow up time and again with the center. The farmers are even ready to buy the seeds from the government. We also requested the extension agent to give a copy of crop cut data.
And to see the adaptation of our varieties, the farmers were asked if they can provide us a terrace for us to see the adaptability of our varieties. Khangma Maap, a blast tolerant variety is still preferred by some farmers although there are lots of ambiguities among themselves, so a careful study will be carried out. The seed demand list is given above and we should see if we can supply them the seeds or not.