Cucumber farmers in Wan-ela village, located in the agricultural heartland of Kantale, are facing serious setbacks due to the outbreak of an unidentified crop disease that is threatening their livelihoods and drastically reducing yields.
According to local farmers, the disease is suspected to be a form of fungal infection and causes the leaves of cucumber plants to yellow and dry out, ultimately stunting crop growth.
What began as a minor issue affecting a few plants has now spread rapidly across several fields, raising alarm within the farming community.
Despite applying a variety of chemicals and agrochemicals, growers report that their efforts have been ineffective in halting the spread.
Many farmers say they are now struggling with reduced harvests and unmet yield expectations, resulting in growing financial losses.
“This outbreak came out of nowhere. Even after using different treatments, nothing seems to be working. If this continues, we’ll be forced to abandon the entire crop,” said one farmer.
The farmers are now calling on agricultural authorities to step in with a proper disease control programme, along with expert guidance to help them manage the crisis and restore cost-effective cucumber cultivation in the region.
The outbreak comes at a time when Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector continues to grapple with issues related to climate variability, pest infestations, and high input costs, placing added pressure on rural communities dependent on cash crops like cucumber.
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