‘Bona virus’ found in paddy fields of Rait block in Kangra
Shahpur MLA Kewal Singh Pathania, along with agriculture experts, inspects paddy fields at Puhada village in Kangra on Saturday.
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Southern rice black streaked dwarf virus, locally known as “bona virus”, has been detected in paddy fields in several villages of the Rait block in Kangra district, raising concerns among farmers and agriculture experts
Kewal Singh Pathania, Shahpur MLA and Deputy Chief Whip, accompanied by a team of agriculture experts, visited the affected areas, including Puhada village, on Saturday. The team interacted with farmers to assess the extent of damage caused by the virus and discussed preventive measures to stop its spread.
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Pathania, while speaking with farmers, said that the disease severely impacts the growth of crops. “Plants infected with this virus grow only up to one-third of their normal height, roots become weak and there is a high risk of their premature destruction,” he added. The disease is caused by a virus transmitted through an insect pest called white backed plant hopper.
According to official estimates, paddy has been cultivated on 2,930 hectares in the Rait Block of Kangra district. The villages that have reported the bona virus attack include Prei, Ladwara, 45 Mile, Basnur, Dargela, Puhada, and Nerti while Boh, Darini and Changar areas have not shown symptoms of the disease.
The Agriculture Department has stepped up efforts to contain the outbreak of the disease, which is at an initial stage. Field teams are carrying out surveys, advising farmers on pest management practices and making pesticides available at 50 per cent subsidy to minimise losses. Officials are also spreading awareness about the early detection and quick response to avoid further damage.
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Pathania urged the farmers to report any unusual symptoms immediately to the local Agriculture Department office. “Timely pest control is extremely important to prevent this disease from spreading. Farmers should seek technical guidance without delay,” he added.
Meanwhile, experts have warned that if the virus is not controlled in time, it can significantly impact yields and farmers’ income in the area.
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