No yellow rust case reported in state

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 24

Despite humid weather, foggy conditions and low temperature, that are supposed to be conducive for occurrence of yellow rust in wheat crop, no case of yellow rust has been reported from the state, while fresh rain and snow have increased prospects of bumper crop.

The Joint Secretary (Agriculture), Government of India, had convened a meeting of wheat-growing states last week to review the progress. It was revealed that one case of yellow rust had been reported in Yamunanagar in Haryana, but no such case had been reported from Himachal so far, said Director, Agriculture, JC Rana.

“So far, it was believed that higher hills of Himachal are a host for yellow rust, but this time, the notion has been proved wrong, as the disease has not spread from Himachal. We have urged the Centre to launch a project to identify the origin of yellow rust,” he added.

Rana said Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts had already been included in the Food Security Mission and efforts would be made to find the roots of yellow rust in the state.

Referring to the effect of a fresh spell of rain on rabi crop, Rana said the rain was extremely good for the crop and had raised the prospects of bumper crop. “We hope to meet the production targets for 2014-15,” he said.

He said the total foodgrain target was fixed at 16.02 lakh tonne, while the rabi target was 7.11 lakh tonne, but despite a shortfall in kharif production owing to deficient monsoon rain, the target would be achieved.

So far, the rain is good even for vegetable crops such as cabbage, turnip, cauliflower, radish and spinach, but if the rain continues in the coming days too, it may cause some damage to vegetable crop, he cautioned.

An area of 3.91 lakh hectare, including 3.59 hectare under wheat, was covered under rabi crop. Due to the timely and regular rains, the sowing target was fully achieved and production target would not only be achieved, but may be overshot, he added.