Chandahandi: Farmers of Nabarangpur district, especially in Chandahandi block, are worried as their paddy crops have been damaged by brown plant hoppers, a pest locally known as Chakada.
On receipt of complaints, the concerned Agriculture Department authorities Tuesday visited the farmlands affected by pests and confirmed that the crop have been devoured by pests.
A senior official of the district agriculture department said the pesticides were sold to farmers at subsidised rates to farmers to check pests.
But the farmers alleged the pesticide distributed by the department was not effective. A source said, there were reports of pest attack in many villages including Sinaplai, Mohara and Koilimunda. The villages affected by pests include Chakamal, Khairabhadi, Haladi, Fataki, Mohara and Beheramunda among o thers villages.
Abhiram Pujari, a farmer of Chandahandi block, said brown plant hoppers had badly destroyed his paddy crop. “I had expected a good yield this year. But brown plant hoppers have invaded my fieldsand damaged my crop,” he said.
“As pesticide provided by the government was not effective, I was forced to buy it from the open market.”
The farmers said although 80 per cent of paddy crops in the district were damaged due to the pests, the farm officials and the district administration has been maintaining silence on the issue.
The farmers urged the district administration and agricultural department to provide effective pesticides to contain pests.
PNN
