Fungi Devastate Sesame Farms In Magwe Region
By Network Media Group
Friday, July 29, 2022
Fungi have destroyed thousands of acres of sesame crops in Magwe Region.
“The cause isn’t insects but fungal bacteria caused by erratic weather,” Nyunt Wai, an agricultural expert, told NMG. He explained that the fungus dries out the stem of the plant affecting the colour of the plant, which turns brown before it dries up and dies.
Farmers told NMG that the fungus only affects the red sesame and not the black variety and that most of the damage occurred on farms in southern Mindon Township.
“There wasn’t enough rain during the wet season and the winter wasn’t very cold this year, so the fungus attacked some of the sesame. We sprayed different pesticides on the plants, but that didn’t stop it,” a farmer told NMG.
Farmers aren’t sure if global warming has contributed to the irregular weather that’s spoiled their harvest.
In previous years, farmers have harvested 20 bags of red sesame per acre, but this year they don’t expect to harvest more than 4 bags per acre.
“There’s absolutely nothing we can do about it if the fungus is ruining our crops and we’ve not bothered to report to the agriculture department,” an older farmer told NMG.
The fungus also devastated crops in the Maezali area of Mindon Township last year.
This year, a bag of sesame costs $27.
