Pulses are considered the second staple food in Bangladesh after rice, and for a large part of the population they are one of the main sources of protein. According to available information, each person needs an average of 45 grams of pulses a day, but we eat only 12 to 15 grams.

Increasing pulse production would help close this gap. The main pulse crops are lentil, mung bean, black gram, chickpea and pea, and mung bean is considered the best in nutritional terms. By growing mung bean, farmers can meet their families' nutritional needs and also earn money by selling it.

Because mung bean gives a crop in two to two and a half months, farmers can easily bring fallow land under it after harvesting Aman rice. But powdery mildew can cause losses. It is a fungal disease that produces a white powdery substance on the leaves, stems and pods, stunting the plants' growth and reducing yield.

• Leaves, stems and pods are attacked.
• Affected leaves, stems and pods are covered with a white, powder-like coating.
• At first, small, light white powdery spots appear on the upper surface of the leaves.
• Later they turn greyish white and gradually spread to all the leaves, stems, flowers and pods.
• In severe attacks, light blue to grey spots can be seen.
• When the attack is severe, all the plants are affected and die.
• The disease spreads through seed, discarded plant parts and the air.

• Sow early.
• Apply balanced fertiliser.
• Irrigate in moderation.
• Use disease-resistant varieties.
• Collect affected parts and destroy or burn them.

If the disease appears, mix 2 grams of Hadiavit (a sulphur-group fungicide) in each litre of water and spray every 12 to 15 days.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.