Okra attack: NIHORT proffers immediate solution for farmers

Scientists at National Horticultural Research Institute ( NIHORT) have suggested the spray of farms with synthetic insecticide on weekly basis for immediate control of newly detected virus disease devastating okra plants in Nigeria.

In a statement made available to Food Farm News yesterday, the management of NIHORT, headed by Dr. Lawal Atanda stated that scientific process towards developing a sustainable lasting solution to the newly discovered okra disease would soon be released, while synthetic insecticide mixed in water is suggested as temporarily spray by farmers for immediate control measure in their farms.

The statement also called the attention of okra farmers to this disease in order to prevent its negative impact on the economy through low production that may occur in all affected farms adding that states like Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos and Niger are victims already.

The press release however advised farmers to be on look out for this new virus disease with the population of aphids and leafhoppers on affected plants showing " a twisting of necrotic leaves becoming thick and leathery. 

" The curling and enations are more prevalent on leave that develop soon after infection than in later leaves, and okra plants are severely stunted with small fruits mostly deformed and unfit for market"

It was further stated in the release that NIHORT is on the alert to curtail the outbreak in order to forestall the devastating and negative economic impact on okra farmers nationwide.