‘Groundnut russet virus also affects maize’

Some farmers find it difficult to cultivate groundnut because of a strange disease that destroys it, is there anything your institute can do to solve the problem?What we call groundnut russet virus is usually responsible for the difficulties that we have with groundnut farming. This is a virus, very difficult to control when it starts […]

Some farmers find it difficult to cultivate groundnut because of a strange disease that destroys it, is there anything your institute can do to solve the problem?
What we call groundnut russet virus is usually responsible for the difficulties that we have with groundnut farming. This is a virus, very difficult to control when it starts spreading. It affects groundnut and it prevents the maize from realising its full yield potentials. This is why we usually advice farmers to come to the institute for advise and purchase of their seeds. If an area is endemic with this type of disease, we have a groundnut variety that can suit those areas. This means that when you buy your seed from the institute, the variety can tolerate or resist the virus. The virus is very difficult to control when it affects certain crops. Even in humans, virus is very difficult to control. Here in IAR, we have what we call russet resistant groundnut variety. The best thing is for the farmers to contact us or any other expert on the best variety to plant. We also tell farmers to adjust their cultural farming practices in order to prevent the spread or effects of that virus.
What can a farmer experiencing this problem do?
Actually, that virus has no remedy, it is only managed. Therefore, what farmers ought to do in this type of situation is what we call rouging. This is involves removing all the affected plants or those that have shown symptoms of the disease from the farm and destroy them, especially through burning. A farmer then keeps a watch at the rest of his plants, and anytime one shows symptom we also remove it. This is the first aid that we would administer with the hope that the ground would recover. But if the whole farm is affected, actually there is no chemical that you can spread for the plant to recover, at least, for now. There is none. In this disease management, we can as well adopt what we call crop rotation. A farmer that plants groundnut this year, for example, and he had experienced the problem of this disease can plant a different crop that is not in the same legume with groundnut. A farmer can plant maize in his farm for two to three years before he comes back to groundnut. Another option is to burn all the pods of groundnut that are left in the affected farm. By this, the virus inside the leaves and the farm are expected to die. Then if the farmer wants to plant groundnut the following year, he should go for the variety that is resistant to that virus. People in areas that stopped planting groundnut are largely not aware of how to sanitise their own farms. They are not aware that we have a variety that can resist the virus. Therefore, those areas that are having problem of groundnut russet, which is a very debilitating disease that if it affects a farm the farmer may not get anything, can as much as possible adopt these measures I have mentioned. These measures are burning the affected crop residues and trashes in the farm. The next is crop rotation for about two to three years so that the virus affecting the groundnut would not find a host and, finally, farmers should look for groundnut variety that is resisting the virus. Where the soil is endemic, if these measures are taken, the disease would be highly minimised or eliminated completely. Following these procedures, especially planting the variety that can resist the disease, can revive groundnut farming, which is one of the ways that enhances the income of our farmers. Therefore, there is no any justification that can make our farmers to abandon groundnut farming. All they need to do is to use a small portion of their time to come here, and they would experience wonders with their groundnut.