Yellow rust disease spotted on Wheat crop in Punjab
Weather conditions have turned out to be a nightmare for Wheat crop in Punjab. Congenial weather conditions is giving sleepless nights to the Agriculture Department, as it causing threat of yellow rust to wheat crop for over 5 lakh acres approximately.
138 block-level surveillance and monitoring teams have been set up by the department to tackle highly potential air-borne pathogen attack on the crop.
The department is yet to get clearance from the Finance Department for Rs 5-crore subsidy for disbursal among farmers for spray of fungicides to prevent the outbreak of the disease. However the subsidy has already been cleared by the Centre under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
“We are waiting for the Finance Department to clear the subsidy for its timely disbursal,” said Dr Jasbir Singh Bains, Director, Agriculture Department.
“If the flag leaf of the plant is attacked by fungi in its hooting stage, it could lead to up to 50 per cent crop loss,” said Jalandhar-based farm expert Dr Naresh Gulati.
“Apart from air, disease pathogens can also travel through the movement of animals and water in the fields,” he said.
Dr Jasbir Singh Bains said members of surveillance teams had fanned out across the state. “There is no report of any outbreak from any part of Punjab yet, but we are exercising utmost caution,” Dr Bains added.
-PTC News
