The muskmelon farmers in Punjab are facing losses due to fusarium wilt attack on their crop. It has also affected the quality of the fruit. The horticulture officials have advised farmers to use fungicide and get proper guidance from the officials in this regard.

The fungal infection has been attributed to recent rains and young plants are infected in the fields, affecting the quality of the marketable fruit. In Punjab, muskmelon is sown in the Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nabha, Patiala and Banur areas, while some vegetable growers in Malerkotla also are nurturing the crop.

The horticulture officials said muskmelon was sown in around 7,000 hectares in Punjab, while watermelon had been sown in around 2,700 hectares. Joint director, horticulture, Punjab, Harmel Singh said: "Yes, there have been reports of wilt attack on the muskmelon due to rains. The quality of fruit has also been affected Our teams are on the job to assess the losses. The affected crops, however, have survived so far as new stems have emerged with the growth of the plant. In such circumstances, the farmers are advised to spray fungicides or insecticides, whichever is required."

Harnek Singh, a farmer from Khok village in Nabha, who has cultivated muskmelon in around 14 acres, said: "The wilting and chlorosis of older leaves can be widely seen on the crop. The stems have developed cracks and streaks have appeared on the crown of the plant. After the recent rains, the quality of the fruit has also been affected. We are getting a satisfactory price for our produce - Rs 25 per kg, like last year, but the expenses incurred on the crop have increased as we have to spray the fungicides on it."

"I sowed muskmelon in seven acres in February and the fruiting started in April, but the wilt attack due to rains affected its growth and quality. The crop sown ir another 7 acres in March-end was also affected and it will start fruiting in July instead of June. We have suffered 50% loss," he added. Kulwant Singh, horticulture officer in Patiala, said: "The farmers are getting good price for their yield but there are reports of wilt attack. In Patiala, the area under muskmelon is around 300 acres of which 100 to 150 acres are in the Nabha area."

Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com