Jaleswar: The farming community is worried over growing pest onslaught on paddy crops in north Balasore while insufficient rainfall has already played spoilsport on their hopes for bumper crop.
Farmers in most parts of Jaleswar and Bhograi blocks apprehend that paddy crop in thousands of acres of land will suffer extensive damage if no preventive measures are taken immediately by the agriculture department.
Due to pest attack, paddy leaves and roots are rotting. The crop is affected by Mahisa and BLB diseases, it is said.
The agriculture department is allegedly doing nothing to prevent the spread of the disease. Though farmers are applying pesticide, there is no let-up in the pest attack.
According to reports, about 1,500 acres of farmland in Jaleswar block and 3,500 acres of land in Bhograi block have been affected by pest onslaught. The areas where pests have been playing spoilsport with paddy include Baiganabadia, Netua, Chamargan, Sikharpur, Makidia, Khalina, Nampe, Rayaramchandrapur, Gopimohanpur, Khulada, Paschimabard and Dakhinapraharajpur under Jaleswar block.
Besides, pest onslaught is reportedly growing in Mahagaba, Katisahi, Baunsadiha, Rasalpur, Maheswarpur, Nachinda, Kharidpimpala, Nahara, Balima, Drudhapal, Kusuda and Putina panchayats under Jaleswar block.
Farmers claimed that despite spraying pesticide as per recommendation by agriculture experts, the disease refuses to subside. This has become a cause of concern for farmers while they demanded more investigation by agriculture experts to stem the problem.
Agriculture officer of Jaleswar area, Kiran Kumar Parida said that the matter of the pest attack here was known late. PNN