Swarming caterpillars damage paddy crop

TUESDAY, 07 AUGUST 2012 19:29

SUDHIR MISHRA N BALANGIR

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The recent rainfall has accelerated the agricultural operations in Balangir district, but the farmers are a worried lot as swarming caterpillars are now damaging their crop.

A total of 1,950 hectares of paddy crop land in Gudvella, Agalpur, Puintala, Loisingha, Saintala and Belpada have been affected this year by the pest attack, informed an agriculture official adding that the worst-hit is Gudvella block with paddy crop in 852 hectares of land having been affected.

The rainwater from forests carries this insect, which settles on the Palash trees. From there they come to the bund and then to paddy fields. The rainwater carries and deposits them in the low lands. Once the water inundates the plain fields and deposits the caterpillars, they grow rapidly and attack the crop en masse within two to three days, explained the official.

However the pest menace can be controlled by application of insecticides like Chloropyriphous, Trizophus and Dichlorovos and the pesticides should be applied in the evening, he said.

So far, a total of 1,228 hectares of pest-affected paddy fields have been treated and a total of 383 litres of insecticides have been disbursed, he said.

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