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Details Of Innovation
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When the crop is affected by the mosaic disease, plant growth immediately stops, and only small-sized potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are obtained. Bud formation is also not vigorous. This disease appears two months after sowing due to cool, humid climate. The disease reduces the yield and the potatoes produced are also not fleshy. For controlling this disease, farmers use many chemical fungicides but they are not very effective. Haribhai, has learnt a different method to tackle the mosaic disease. When symptoms of mosaic disease appear in his area, he immediately reduces the frequency of irrigation to keep the soil slightly dry. By doing this, he prevents the spread of the disease to healthy plants from the affected plants. Even when his crop has been affected, this treatment reduces the damage by 50 per cent. Two other farmers who have also adopted this method are Revabhai Ganeshbhai Patel and Joitaram Gangarambhai Patel. Haribhai says that he developed this method by studying the mosaic disease over many years. He noticed a correlation between cool, humid climate and the disease and inferred that reducing the level of humidity can control it. He also took advantage of the experience of others in developing this method.
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