Sri Lanka, July 17 -- Sri Lanka's plantation sector has long been the backbone of the rural economy, generating employment, foreign exchange, environmental services, and livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of families. Tea, rubber, coconut, cinnamon, oil palm, coffee, cocoa, spices, and numerous perennial crops continue to contribute significantly to national development. However, a silent biological threat is emerging globally and has the potential to create severe economic consequences if not proactively managed. This threat is Ganoderma, a destructive fungal disease that attacks the root and stem systems of perennial crops.

Ganoderma is often referred to as the "cancer of perennial crops" because of its ability to slowly invade roo...