Balasore/Soro: Leaves of paddy plants getting scorched due to pest attack has left farmers worried in Oupada and Soro blocks of Balasore district, a report said Monday.
The arrival of the disease has spread panic among the farmers who alleged that while incessant rain helped in the cultivation it also led to spread of the disease in paddy plants. Paddy plants turn yellowish and later wilt after being affected by the disease, the farmers said.
They are shocked over the development as they find themselves clueless over the possible impact of the disease. The farmers claimed that the disease is widespread on the farmlands in Soro block and Soro municipality regions. Similar scenes of pest attack were also witnessed in Oupada block where leaves of paddy plants over hundreds of acres have been scorched.
The disease is most visible on the farmlands in Anantapur, Manipur, Atapur, Gopinathpur, Sangakhu, Terei and Pakhar panchayats of Soro block and in Fatepur, Rairamachandrapur, Gadasahi, Talakia, Badapokhari, Aghirapada panchayats in Oupada block.
The disease is fast spreading to farmlands in neighbouring panchayats even as the agriculture officials met farmers and discussed about the situation Monday. The officials though have failed to take any effective steps to combat the situation, the farmers alleged.
Agriculture officer Saroj Kumar Jena and other officials met the farmers in various panchayats of Soro block and interacted with them about the methods to check the spread of the disease.
While talking to the farmers, Jena assured them that medicines for the disease would be provided to them at subsidized rate from the agriculture office.
The farmers in Oupada block are livid as the agriculture officials are yet to meet them and find a solution to the problem. They alleged that they have borrowed a lot to raise the crops and the loss will deprive them of earning their livelihood.
PNN