Amritsar: Experts suggest farmers to avoid excess spray on standing crops

Agriculture experts have suggested farmers to avoid an excess spray of pesticides on standing crops, while the Deputy Commissioner stressed on smooth paddy procurement in the mandis. A meeting of the District Pest Surveillance and Advisory Unit was held under the chairmanship of Dr Baljinder Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Amritsar, organised by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department.

Dr Astha, Assistant Professor at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Amritsar, informed attendees about the occurrence of crop diseases caused in the past by continuous dry weather and excessive use of manure and nitrogen fertilisers. She advised that crops that have reached maturity should not be sprayed unnecessarily. Raman Kumar, Subject Matter Expert (PP), Amritsar, stated that after the increase in temperature, if the brown-backed moth infestation in paddy/basmati exceeds the threshold of 5 moths per plant, farmers should spray 94 ml of Triflumizopyram 10 SC, or 80 gm Dinotefuran 20 SC, or 120 gm Pymetrozine 50 WG, or 80 ml Neem-based Ecotin (Azadirachtin 5 per cent) or one litre of PAU Neem solution per acre.

Jatinder Singh Sandhu from the Horticulture Department and Assistant Horticulture Officer recommended the use of fruit fly traps for guava crops affected by fruit fly attacks. These traps are available at the Horticulture Department office, Peer State Verka Bypass. He also advised that fallen fruits should be buried deep in the ground to control the pest.

Dr Baljinder Singh added that Agriculture Department teams are continuously conducting field surveys and so far, no pest or disease attacks above the economic threshold have been observed. He urged farmers to regularly inspect their fields, report any possible infestations to agricultural experts and avoid unnecessary spraying to reduce costs.

Sukhchain Singh, Subject Matter Expert, and Agricultural Development Officers Mandeep Singh, Sukhmanpreet Kaur and Gagandeep Kaur were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, paddy procurement has commenced in the district and the Deputy Commissioner stressed the need for smooth and efficient procurement processes at the mandis to prevent any inconvenience for farmers.

During a review of paddy procurement preparations, the Deputy Commissioner directed all SDMs, agriculture officers and mandi officers to personally visit the mandis and ensure that facilities such as drinking water, seating arrangements, cleanliness, lighting, bathrooms and roads are well-maintained.

She stressed on the smooth procurement of the paddy crop. She appealed to the farmers to harvest only when the crop is fully ripe so that the moisture content beyond the prescribed limit of 17 per cent can be avoided.

The Deputy Commissioner also informed that a Stubble Protection Force has been formed, comprising 318 Nodal Officers, 108 Cluster Officers and 1,206 other officials, including Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, Block Development and Panchayat Officers, Assistant Registrars/Inspectors of Cooperative Societies, SHOs and Agricultural Development and Extension Officers. She added that these officers will visit villages to establish direct contact with farmers and raise awareness about the harmful effects of stubble burning.

The Deputy Commissioner instructed all SDMs to ensure the prevention of stubble burning incidents by organising stubble protection forces at the block level.