Agriculture department fights pest infestation on war-footing

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 20 (EMN): Following reports of worm infestation in several parts of the state causing huge economic loss to the farming community, department of Agriculture has geared up on a war-footing to contain further damage to the crops.

Joint director (Plant Protection) of Agriculture Bendanglila, who visited the potato farms in Khonoma village to analyse the ecosystem of the pest infestation on Wednesday, told Eastern Mirror that it is a new pest known as semilooper or commonly known as inch worm. She said the infestation is happening at the potato farm, where mono cropping is being practiced.

The farm of about 100 farmers (20 SHGs) was reported to have been in the first year of cultivation.

She said interventions undertaken by different agencies like Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) and department of Horticulture has not been successful. Despite an attempt made by the department of Agriculture with a stronger combination of Neem was also not successful, she said the department is now trying by mixing two different fungal derivatives.

She said the pests would take three to five days to react to the solution that they would be using. Owing to bad weather condition, the department has instructed farmers to avoid spraying on Wednesday, she said.

She said they (department) have identified two types of semiloopers and still in the process of identification. She informed that the pests are in their second cycle.

The infestation at Khonoma village was stated to have damaged the potato farm covering an area of more than 25 hectare. The officer informed that advisory was given to the farmer to pre-harvest and replaced with other seasonal crops to mitigate further economic loss.

The officer added that besides Khonoma, report of infestation was also received today from Khuzama under Kohima district. She said Zunheboto district has been massively infected unlike any other district with 645 hectare affecting potato, chilli and beans farming.

As the pest was stated to be migratory, she expressed apprehension as it may spread and affect the whole state if not contained on time. She observed that the pests infestation started after the state received heavy rainfall and hailstones last month.

She maintained that the department is taking the case seriously and working on a war footing. She further added that the department has introduced a gender-friendly sprayer as women consisted of the major farming community.

Meanwhile, the director of Agriculture M Ben Yanthan informed that senior officers from the department would be touring the state to take stock of the situation.
He said the tour was aimed at encouraging the farmers to increase seed replacement rate by growing suitable high yielding variety seeds, monitor farming activities and ensuring that the farmers benefit from the initiatives of the government and the department in particular besides others.