KHAMMAM: The Mahyco chilli hybrid - Tejaswini - seed has been banned by the Department of Agriculture for three years in Khammam district. The Additional Director of Agriculture has issued a directive to this effect stalling the sale of the seed in all the four divisions of the district with immediate effect.

The Department officials said that the hybrid chilli variety was affected by the sucking pests -- thrips and aphids -- on about 6000 acres in Tirumalayapalem, Kusumabnchi Khammam urban and rural mandals in the last season. The impact of the pest on the crop yield was found to be comparatively more serious than other hybrid varieties. The affected farmers made a hue and cry.

Precautionary measure

The agriculture scientists studied the problem and gave their suggestions to help the farmers. They sought to contain the spread of the virus to other areas of the district where the chilli crop ( all varieties) was spread on a little over 90,000 acres.

The Agriculture Department official admitted that the same hybrid chilli varity grown in Bhadrachalam division was free from the sucking pests.

The pest problem on Tejaswini was confined to certain pockets. But as a precautionary measure, the seed was banned all over the district.

Joint Director for Agriculture Jalaluddin said farmers were being provided with other options to avoid cultivation of the banned variety. At least 10 other hybrid varieties tolerant to thips and other pests were made available to them.

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