Fall armyworm attacks maize crop in Jalandhar villages

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 2

The farmers who have recently sown maize crop in region are in for a major trouble as fall armyworm has started attacking it.

The pest has already attacked crop in Kuhala, Lesriwal, Sikandpur, Dhogri and Lallian villages of Jalandhar. Officials of the Agriculture Department have already sounded farmers against the pest which can fly up to 100 kms a day.

A special team of the department recently inspected the impact of the pest on the crop. Entomology experts advised the farmers to spray ”Corazon” and ”Missile” pesticides in the prescribed manner on the crop. However, the experts advised farmers growing maize for fodder not to spray the crop with pesticides. A team from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, also took a round of the affected farms and issued necessary advisory to the farmers.

Dr Surinder Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Jalandhar, advised the maize farmers to look for round to oval holes in fresh leaves. He said since the worm was a voracious eater, it keeps defecating on the leaves that could be seen as another sign of its presence.

The experts said the worm had attacked crops in Gujarat, UP and Punjab earlier also. “While its effect was negligible in 2018 and 2019, a strong vigil is required this time. Timely intervention can help contain the attack,” said Agriculture Officer Naresh Gulati. The department had set a target to cover 7,500 hectares of land in the region under maize in this khariff season as a part of the diversification plan.