Brown plant hopper attack has wheat farmers worried

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Sahib, February 16

After yellow rust, the attack by brown plant hopper on wheat plants has increased the worries of the farming community in the district.

Farmers Manpreet Singh and Nachatar Singh of Kalewal village told the Tribune here today that they had taken 18 acres on contract for agriculture.

They said that earlier, water had accumulated in their 3-acre land damaging the paddy crop, the compensation for which is yet to be given by the state government.

He said that now, brown plant hoppers have started attacking the wheat crop after the sudden increase in temperature, forcing farmers to spend Rs 400 per acre on labour and chemical sprays.

Another farmer Surjit said that if they did not go in for sprays, brown plant hopper would suck the juices out of the wheat grains. That would result in reducing the yield by 3-4 quintal per acre.

He said the attack of the brown plant hopper was so contagious that if it is not controlled immediately, it shifts to nearby farms depending on the direction the wind is blowing.

The farmers demanded that chemicals to control brown plant hopper should be provided at subsidised rates as was being given for the treatment of yellow rust.

Agriculture officer Gurmail Singh said that they were receiving reports about brown plant hopper attacks in various parts of the district. He said surveys were being conducted in the district after which they would suggest steps to the farmers for controlling the attack.