Andaman sounds alert after incidents of crop diseases

Port Blair, Aug 20 (UNI) The Agriculture Department of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has sounded caution after sporadic incidents of rice-blast and stem-borer diseases in crops were reported from a few remote villages of North Andaman Islands.

The Agriculture Department of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had been advising farmers to keep strict vigil on their farmland after the detection of these diseases. Farmers have also been cautioned and asked to take up precautionary measures to control and check further spread of these diseases.

The incident has come to the notice of the department during the visit of senior agriculture officer and field staff in the paddy fields of some villages of the area. ''However, we have observed that the area coverage and the performance of the crop were satisfactory,'' M A Salim, Director of Agriculture Department told reporters today in Port Blair.

The villages where these diseases have been noticed in patches are VS Pally, Sitanagar and Madhupur villages of North Andaman, under Diglipur Tehsil.

The Agriculture department has also alerted all the nearest sub-depots or zonal agricultural office for expert guidance and precautionary measures. An official advisory is also released to guide the farmers of these affected villages, the agriculture director added.

Sources said as 90 per cent revenue areas in North Andaman are used for farming and cultivation, the agriculture department is trying to make sure that the crop diseases do not spread like jungle fire. However, farmers of these remote villages are demanding more field staff from Agriculture Department for proper guidance.

A delegation of farmers and villagers of Diglipur are also planning to meet the Lt Governor and the lone MP to demand compensation for affected farmers.

UNI