KATHMANDU: Paddy crops in various parts of Gorkha district are suffering from an outbreak of blast disease attributed to zinc deficiency.

According to Kulprasad Tiwari, chief of the Agriculture Development Office in Gorkha, the disease has been observed in fields across Palungtar Municipality and Siranchowk Rural Municipality.

Tiwari stated that field inspections confirmed the presence of blast disease and bacterial leaf blight, both linked to low zinc levels in the soil. Suman Bhattarai, an information officer at the office, advised farmers to spray a solution of five grams of zinc sulphate per litre of water on the crops to address the deficiency. Experts also recommended applying 1 to 1.15 kilograms of zinc sulphate per ropani during final field preparation. The use of sufficient compost or manure is also encouraged to enhance zinc availability in the soil.

The Agriculture Development Office has advised farmers to drain stagnant water from fields periodically, as prolonged waterlogging can reduce zinc availability. Agriculture officer Bibek Poudel warned against the excessive, one-time application of nitrogenous fertilizers, suggesting instead that they be applied in split doses according to official recommendations.

Farmers are further advised to avoid dense planting, remove and destroy infected plants, and use pesticides only after consulting with agricultural technicians to ensure proper disease identification. The office warned that failure to implement control measures promptly could lead to further spread of the infection. Prakash Kumal, a farmer from Siranchowk Rural Municipality-4, noted that technicians were called to the fields due to concerns that the blast disease could cause significant damage to the crop as it approaches the harvesting stage.