Oct 4, 2019
Orientation programme for villagers of Nadupadavu was conducted on 4th October 2019 to create awareness among local villagers to double the income by producing advantageous bio-fertilizers. Students of department of biotechnology observed that uncontrolled use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides not only resulted in the environmental pollution, but also resulted in depletion of natural antagonists and deterioration of the fertility of the land. Biotechnology students educated the farmers that, even though there are benefits of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides at the initial stages of infestation, counter productivity of the plantations reduced, pest resistance of the plants reduced, and natural inhibitors of the plant pathogens decreased on long use of inorganic fertilizers.
Students during their initial observation concluded that, solid waste of areca-nut shell is also a problematic issue in this region as it takes years together to degrade, even after it is mixed with fertilizers and used. Hence students have provided solution to this problem by incorporating useful fungus such as Tichoderma viride that was isolated from organic farm could inhibit pathogenic fungus such as Phytophthora capsici when it was used along with degraded agro waste. There is a great scope for farmers to adopt this eco-friendly integrated plant disease and soil management technique developed at P. A. College of Engineering, Mangalore
