Foldscope microscopy empowering farmers in Chhattisgarh to detect plant diseases

New Delhi: Farmers spanning across 20 districts of Chhattisgarh now have a magic wand to aid pest and disease detection, soil quality assessment, and water analysis in their agricultural fields, fostering informed decision-making and sustainable practices at minimal cost in their farm lands.

Foldscope, a portable and affordable microscope, is the new tool that is empowering communities in the state to take agricultural decisions with the help of frugal science and hence helping agricultural livelihoods. It is helping in in-situ diagnosis and digital cataloging of plant-pathogenic fungi through Foldscope Microscopy.

The initiative spread across the districts of Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Raipur, Dhamtari, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Koriya, Surguja, Jashpur, Korba, Sakti, Mahasamund, Bilaspur, Mungeli, Kabirdham, Bemetara, Kanker, and Bastar spanning over 30 villages is being implemented by ICAR – National Institute of Biotic Stress Management. It is supported under SYST programme of SEED Division of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Capacity building and sampling activities are being undertaken to identify the plant pathogenic fungal diseases — Powdery mildew, Leaf blight, Leaf spot and post-harvest diseases and so on at In-situ condition with the help of the foldscope.

A total 16 fungal diseases and their causal organisms were identified based on morphological structure of pathogen and host species such as Golovinomyces cichoracearum, Erysiphe polygoni, Erysiphe cichoracearum, Leveillula aurica, Penicillium digitatum, Ustilago tritici, Albugo bliti, Fusarium oxysporum, Alterneria sp and Rhizophus sp.

In addition, five biopesticides have been tested and two bioagents –. Trichoderma viride and Pacelomyces spp have been successfully observed under Foldscope and with Fruiting bodies of mushroom and Pleurotus spp (oyster mushroom). 

Foldscope microscopy was also used for assessing semen quality in straws for cattle artificial insemination (AI). This could be a pioneering application with significant potential to enhance conception rates and improve the grading of indigenous cattle breeds.

Rural youth and students received hands-on training to independently demonstrate foldscope microscopy to local communities to expand the reach of the initiative. Training sessions, demonstrations, workshops, and awareness campaigns were organized to promote the use of Foldscope for in-situ diagnosis of plant pathogenic fungi and zoonotic diseases. This helped reach out to diverse audience, including farmers, rural youth, college students, agriculture and horticulture extension officers, veterinary officers, and faculty members.

The Foldscope’s frugal science approach is transforming livelihoods in Chhattisgarh by bringing advanced microscopy within the reach of rural communities. Farmers use it to detect crop pests, diagnose plant diseases, and assess soil and water quality, enabling timely and informed actions for sustainably enhancing the livelihoods of farmers.

Documented posts on observations and events were shared on the MICROCOSMOS Foldscope Community platform, fostering engagement and knowledge exchange within the broader scientific community.