Hatiota/Bhandaripokhari: Khariff farming this year got delayed in most parts of Ganjam district due to erratic rainfall.
Braving the monsoon odds, farmers managed to raise paddy in thousands of acres of land in Polsara block, but pest attack on paddy has become a major concern for them.
Reports said pest attacks have been spreading in acres of land at Balipahar, Chitrakar, Padiabhanga, Ghosapahara, Gaha, Kunimundia and Patharakodia.
Paddy pants are withering due to pest attack, lamented farmers Bansi Dalabehera, Raghunath Bisoi, Jogendra Dalabehera and Kabi Swain.
Farmers have taken up the issue with the block agriculture office, but no officials have reached out to them to suggest remedial measures.
The paddy plants have started conceiving now. At this juncture, a variety of diseases have been affecting the plants, it was learnt.
Farmers were disheartened to see the condition of paddy plants – with leaves drooping and blighted.
“Whatever pesticides are available in the market are being applied on the plants,” rued a farmer of Mandar village.
Farmers in many parts of the district have been facing pest onslaught. Most farmers are unable to know which pesticides are to be applied for effective pest control.
The farmers demanded that the block agriculture officer should come out to the fields to see the condition of paddy plants.
Double whammy
Bhandaripokhari: Delayed and erratic rainfall has already affected khariff paddy in Bhandaripokhari block of Bhadrak district. At this time plants are getting blighted. This double whammy is a concern for the farming community.
Paddy has been cultivated in 17,000 hectares of land in this block. Leaf blighting has been reported from Jalamandua, Nirgundi and Paimahura. The plants have become weak due to the pest attacks. Though farmers have been applying pesticides, the measure has not been effective in containing the problem.
Farmers are desperate to save their crops and are seen making a beeline at pesticide shops.
They lamented that this year they will face huge losses if effective steps are not taken against the pest onslaught.
Block agriculture officer Brajakishore Behera said due to climate change, ‘patrapoda’ and ‘kandabindha’ pests are attacking paddy plants.
The pests will vanish if farmers apply pesticides in right proportions, he added.
PNN