Mysterious disease ruins mustard crop

Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, February 4

In what appears to be another problem for area farmers, a mystery disease has damaged the standing mustard crop in Ubhawal village. Fearing damage in other areas in coming days, the Agriculture Department has started efforts to contain the disease spread.

“I have taken 13 acres on annual lease in Ubhawal village and sown mustard on it. But for the last 10 days, plants have been shriveling and not bearing any fruit. It’s ripening time and if my crop does not grow now, I will have to plough it all and it will cause me losses worth lakhs,” said Gurmeet Singh, a farmer from Akoi Sahib village.

The shriveling of mustard has given tension to other farmers, who have demanded quick action to

prevent the spread of the mystery disease.

“Farmers are already under huge debt and if the disease spreads, it will cause more heavy losses and they will have to acquire loans. Officers concerned are working to detect the reasons, but the state government should also announce any special scheme to compensate the farmers,” said Satwant Singh, another farmer from Ubhwal village.

Senior Agriculture Department officers disclosed that after getting information about damage to the crop, a team led by Chief Agriculture Officer, Sangrur, along with Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kheri visited Ubhawal field. The team examined the 13 acres and have put the crop under observation till Monday to ascertain the nature of the disease.

“We have been taking the required steps and have put the crop under observation till Monday. The attack has been in patches. Our teams are also visiting other villages of the district and getting a feedback to know whether the residents are facing a similar problem,” said Jaswinderpal Singh Grewal, Chief Agriculture Officer, Sangrur.