Pest attack on paddy before harvest, farmers worried
Northern districts of Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar and Karnal hit; some farmers resort to early harvesting of crop to contain damage
The humid and hot weather conditions could be the main reason behind the attack as it is ideal for proliferation of the pest rapidly. DR PRADHUMN BHATNAGAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kurukshetra
KARNAL: Black-white hopper (kala aur safed tela) has attacked the paddy crop in the northern districts of the state right before the start of harvesting season, creating a panic among farmers who were expecting a bumper crop this year.
As per the reports, almost all the early and lateral varieties of paddy are under attack in Kurukshetra, Karnal and Yamunanagar districts, prompting farmers to use pesticides to control the deadly pest from spreading.
Many farmers have started reaping the crop, which contains high moisture content, even before it has ripened to contain further damage.
“The pest is spreading with each passing day and about 50% of the crop has already been damaged,” said Krishan Lal, a farmer from Yamunanagar district.
Raghubir Singh, a farmer from Karnal, said, “We have used several expensive pesticides and insecticides but it was of little avail. Finally, we decided to harvest the crop pre-maturely.” The problem with the lateral basmati varieties is more severe as it may take about a month in harvesting as the crop is in the “milking stage”.
State agriculture department deputy director Karam Chand said the disease can be controlled in the initial stage.
Dr Pradhumn Bhatnagar of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kurukshetra, said, “Yes, the crop is under attack of the black and white hopper which spreads in the entire fields within few days if its population is not controlled in the early stage.”
“The humid and hot weather conditions could be the main reason behind the attack as it is ideal for proliferation of the pest rapidly,” he said.
He said at this stage the only option farmers have is to use insecticides to control the disease from spreading. They should use 125ml of ‘Dichlorvos Nuvan’ insecticide for an acre and 330ml of Buprofezin for an acre with 200 litre water.
Many farmers said the pesticide did not fully reach the lower part of paddy plants.
Agriculture department officials said that the crop loss will not be covered under the Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance scheme as the scheme covered only yield data base of the entire village after four crop-cutting in for zones of a village.