Nandapur: A leaf spot disease has spread across ginger fields in several blocks of Koraput district, with experts warning that it could reduce production by up to 35 per cent this year.
Ginger is an important cash crop in Koraput and has been recognised by the Union government as a district-specific crop.
The disease has been reported from most ginger-growing blocks, with Nandapur, Lamtaput, Semiliguda and Pottangi among the worst-affected areas, farmers said.
Farmers reported that ginger plants begin to wilt and dry up within days of the old ginger being harvested.
They said the disease has raised concerns over significant crop losses this season.
According to the district horticulture department, ginger was cultivated on 4,223 hectares across 14 blocks in 2025, producing 58,121 metric tonnes.
This year, ginger has been cultivated on about 1,175 hectares, with farmers receiving subsidised planting material and incentives from the department.
The current crop has been affected by the disease, particularly in the major ginger-growing blocks.
Farmers from Duruba, Gumiguda and Galganda villages in Nandapur block said they feared substantial losses due to the spread of the disease.
District deputy director of horticulture Antaryami Sahu said prolonged rainfall had caused extensive damage to ginger crops in the district.
Officials of the horticulture department are visiting villages to assess the extent of the damage, while technical assessments of the affected crops are also being carried out.
Sahu said compensation would be provided to affected farmers after the damage assessment is completed.
OUAT’s assistant director of research at Semiliguda, Dr Parsuram Sial, who provides technical support for ginger cultivation in the district, identified the symptoms as leaf spot disease after visiting several affected fields.
Sial said he had visited gin ger-growing areas in most blocks and advised farmers on the disease, its causes and control measures.
He estimated that the disease could reduce ginger production by around 35 per cent this year.