Changes in local policy are sometimes a prerequisite for sustained crop health. This
lesson was learned in workshop co-sponsored by UPWARD, held at Lumle Agricultural Research
Centre (LARC), in November 1996. The objectives were to evaluate progress in research on
the integrated control of Pseudomonas solancearum in hill farming systems, to identify
constraints to the application of control strategies for P. solancearum, and to propose
action to overcome these constraints. Policy makers, researchers, agricultural extension
officers and farmers from bacterial wilt-affected areas of Kaski, Parbat, Sindhupalchok
and Dokha districts attended the meeting.
Participants identified priority research issues starting with the development of a
more effective technique for detecting the presence of the bacterial wilt pathogen,
Pseudomonas solanacearum, in the soil. They also advocated further integrated studies on
soil amendments, manipulation of planting date, new resistant potato clones, long crop
rotations, and alternative crops. The informal seed systems in the high hills need to be
strengthened by identifying bacterial wilt-free areas. Potential areas for the
multiplication of healthy seed are the irrigated rice fields in the mid-hills.
Furthermore, the workshop recommended that the informal seed system should be supplied
with pathogen-free planting materials of appropriate varieties, to be multiplied by
well-trained farmers.
Participants discussed ways to promote and consolidate integrated management of
bacterial wilt at the community or village level through the establishment of local
policies. Experience shows that if a single farmer refuses to join the management program,
the entire effort will fail because neighboring fields will be contaminated again. Local
committees, which implement the control program, should be able to enforce compliance with
community plans to combat bacterial wilt. This requires that awareness of the importance
and bacterial wilt and its pathology among all concerned stakeholders including farmers,
government and non-government agricultural institutions, researchers and policy makers.
The goal of a community participatory approach should be containment and reduction of the
disease rather than an attempt at its eradication.
Healthy seed is by far the most important remedy for bacterial wilt of
potato. However, Nepal presently does not have the administrative capacity to operate an
effective seed certification scheme. The National Potato Research Program and its
affiliated farmers need to ensure that the seed tubers they produce are free from P.
solanacearum infection. Additionally, agricultural policy should give priority to the
improvement of Nepal’s cold storage industry. The current storage industry is in a
state of crisis, and several facilities have already closed down. To address this, the
workshop preferential treatment with reduced interest rates on capital, reduced
electricity tariffs and lower tax liability.