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Haryana to take stock of loss caused by pests

Chandigarh: Following the reports regarding incidence of grasshoppers in a few districts of the State, Haryana Agriculture Department has constituted team to survey the affected areas and take stock of the loss caused by this dangerous pest.

While disclosing this here on Monday, a spokesman of the Agriculture Department said that about 32,000 acres of land in Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Mewat and Faridabad districts was reported to be affected by grasshoppers.

He said that the department was fully aware of the incidence of this pest and has taken steps to control it. A well planned campaign was being carried out in synergy with the district administration and the members of the Panchayati Raj institutions. The farmers were being continuously informed about the measures to control this pest by organising farmers training camps and seminars with the help of district administration, he added.

The spokesman advised the farmers not to let weeds grow over waste land near their fields and along the canals, streams and water courses as grasshoppers breed in these places.

In case the incidence of this pest was noticed on the crops of sugarcane, bajra or maize, pesticides, such as- Monocotophas 36SL, Malathion 50EC, Carbaryl 50WP should be sprayed or dry powder of Mithyleparathian 2D or Linden 13D should be sprayed over the affected crops. Fodder crops so treated by the pesticides should not be used for fodder for a week or so.

A subsidy of 25 per cent on these pesticides was given to the farmers. Farmers could purchase these pesticides from anywhere in the state and they could avail subsidy by producing receipts to the department, he added.

He said that the grasshopper, popularly known as ‘pharka tidda’ generally attacks the crops of jawar, bajra, maize and sugarcane. The pest eats up the leaves and tender twigs of these crops leaving behind only the stubbles. These days the weather was providing ideal conditions for breeding and flourishing grasshoppers, he added. – PTI

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