Agri Univ submits report on pests on kharif crops

Hisar, Jul 31 (UNI) The incidence of mealy bug attack on the cotton crop is fairly high in the cotton belt of Haryana and if the wet weather conditions continue it could increase.

This fact was contained in a report prepared by specialists of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU). The report relates to the damage caused by pests on Kharif crops in Fatehabad and Sirsa districts and it has been submitted to the senior officers of the University and state Agriculture Department.

While stating this today, a spokesman of the University said that the incidence of leaf hopper had been found in 23 per cent of the fields, whereas the incidence of white fly was negligible. Bollworm had caused no harm to BT cotton as well as other varieties of cotton, he added.

Expressing deep concern over the incidence of mealy bug, he said that the pest had spread over 82 per cent of the fields and it might increase if the current weather conditions continued to prevailed in the state. Most of the farmers were aware of the incidence of this pest and they were taking appropriate steps to check the menace of this bug, he added.

The agriculture scientists of the University had advised the farmers to uproot the plants and weeds affected by the mealy bug and burn these besides spraying pesticides on the crops, the spokesman said, adding that regular monitoring of crops, fields, paths and water courses should be ensured to get first hand information regarding the incidence of pests.

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