Farmers a harried lot amid yellow rust attack

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 30

Already staring at delay in harvesting this season amid the Covid-19 scare, the yellow rust attack on the standing wheat crop has left farmers worried. Farmers can prevent maximum damage to the wheat crop by spraying pesticides as recommended by the Agriculture Department, but pesticides stores are closed due to the curfew restrictions in the state.

While the yellow rust attack is quite rampant in several villages in the district, the Aphid (Kala Tela) attack has aggravated the worries of farmers in many villages of Mansa district.

A number of villages in different blocks of the district have come under the yellow rust attack, while its impact in a few villages is in the initial stage. Therefore, it is less harmful as of now.

Pritpal Singh Brar, a farmer from Lakhi Jungle village in Bathinda district, said, “The yellow rust attack has affected the growth and quality of crop in my fields. I cannot even protect it from further damage as fungicide stores are closed due to the curfew restrictions.”

According to agriculture experts, yellow rust takes its name from the appearance of yellow-coloured stripes that run parallel to the venation of leaf blades. Symptoms of yellow rust include stunted and weakened plants, shrivelled grains, fewer spikes, loss in number of grains per spike and grain weight.

Another farmer Nidhadak Singh from Ganga village said, “While the damage has been done to a large extent, we can still minimise it. We demand from the district administration to give permission for opening pesticide stores for at least one hour a day so that we can carry out sprays in our fields to prevent further damage to the standing wheat crop.”

Jaswinder Kumar, block officer, Agriculture Department, said, “The yellow rust attack has been reported from some villages and a report has been sent to the department in this regard. A dip in the temperature at night also leads to the yellow rust attack.”

Following the Covid-19 scare, the field activities of Agriculture Department officials and employees have reportedly decreased significantly. Awareness camps were also not organised amid the curfew restrictions.

Besides the yellow rust attack, farmers in scores of villages in Mansa district, including Khokhar Kalan, Bhai Desa, Burj Rathi, Burj Dhilwan, Burj Hari, Ubha, Khiali Kalan, Bhaini Bhagha, Kot Lallu, Nangal Kalan and Nangal Khurd, are perturbed over the Aphid attack on the wheat crop.

Gora Singh, a farmer from Bhaini Bhaga village, who has cultivated wheat on 20 acres, said, “We have witnessed the Aphid attack on the wheat crop in the past as well, but this time, the nature of the attack is severe and causing more damage. Less than a month is left when farmers will start harvesting their wheat crop and the attack at this crucial time will certainly affect the plant. Tela eats into the plant and affects its growth, which results in low yield.”

Agriculture Officer Dr Gurtej Singh said, “The yellow rust attack is limited to a few villages. Even if it is there, farmers do not need to be worried about it. With an increase in the temperature, it will die on its own in the coming days. It is often observed in areas adjacent to hilly areas.”

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