Pests, diseases wreak havoc on paddy crop

Expressbuzz, Nov 13, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA: As the farmers in Kalahandi district are readying to harvest winter paddy, spectre of a depleted production haunts them due to diseases and pest attack.


BPH and gundi bug pest attack along with diseases like sheath blight and sheath rot severely damaged paddy crops during pre-harvesting period.

The worst affected blocks are Dharamgarh, Koksara, Kalampur, Golamunda, Jaipatna and Junagarh blocks under Dharamgarh sub-division.

This year paddy was grown in 1,51198 hectares in the district - 72,215 hectares in Bhawanipatna subdivision and 78,983 hectares in Dharamgarh subdivision.

Out of 78983 hectares in Dharamgarh sub-division, 48,953 hectares are irrigated.

According to report of Agriculture Department, 13,364 hectares under paddy crop in the district were affected due to moisture-stress condition in initial stages and later during pre-harvest period more than 33,633 hectares were affected by diseases and pests.

Out of the pest and disease affected areas of the district, 4,555 hectares are in Bhawanipatna subdivision and 29,078 hectares in Dharamgarh subdivision.

Incidentally, major part of Dharamgarh sub-division is irrigated by canal system of Indravati project and treated as rice basket of Kalahandi.

According to official report, out of the total affected area of 29,078 hectares in Dharamgarh sub-division, 12,007 hectares are irrigated.

Besides winter paddy, autumn paddy was also affected due to pest attack and diseases in some areas. Crop cutting done in different blocks of Dharamgarh sub-division revealed more than 50 percent crop loss. Particularly Golamunda, Dharamgarh, Koksara and Kalampur blocks under Dharamgarh sub-division are worst-affected.

The crop loss due to pest attack and diseases was the main topic of discussion in the District Natural Calamity Committee meeting held here today. Expressing concern over the situation, members said farmers need to be adequately compensated and assisted to overcome the loss.

Among others, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh, zilla parishad chairman Sarat Naik, Collector R.S. Gopalan, chairmen of blocks and districtlevel officials participated in the meeting. It was decided to go for extensive crop cutting to ascertain the total crop loss and take steps to give succour to affected farmers.