Pest attacks maize crop in Sirmaur

Tribune News Service
Solan, July 29

Maize growers in the lower and trans-Giri areas of Sirmaur are facing crop losses due to fall armyworm.

Notably, farmers in Kunihar block of Solan district are also battling this crop disease. About 10 to 15 per cent of the fields over 4,000 hectares have been destroyed by this pest in Sirmaur, according to officials of the Agriculture Department.

Area of destruction

About 10-15% of the fields over 4,000 hectares of land have been destroyed by fall armyworm in lower and trans-Giri areas of Sirmaur

Maize is cultivated over 24,000 hectares, which yield 58,750 metric tonnes annually in the district. Despite being found majorly in South America, this pest has made its presence felt in southern states like Karnataka and northeastern states. Now, it has infested the crop in Himachal too, said Agriculture Deputy Director Baldev Prashar.

He said the changing climatic conditions and the excess use of pesticides had affected the immunity of crops to fight pests and this was causing various diseases and pest infestation.

He advised farmers to initiate preventive measures if more than five per cent of their crop is found infested. He said the destroyed plants should not be left in the fields as they could further affect healthy plants.