Experts study pest affected fields in Odisha's Ganjam district

Berhampur: A team of experts from National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, on Tuesday conducted a study in the pest-affected fields of Odisha's Ganjam district, officials said.

This comes a few days after a similar review was carried out by specialists from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).

A three-member team, led by Mayabini Jena, head of the crop protection unit of the NRRI, visited several villages in Kukudakhandi, Digapahandi and Sanakhemundi blocks and interacted with the farmers there.

The team also collected sample pests and plants for study, deputy director of agriculture (DDA), Ganjam, Manoj Behera, said.

Ganjam is one of the worst pest-affected districts in the state.

Official sources claimed around 24,000 hectares of crops were destroyed due to insect attack in 20 out of 22 blocks of the district so far, but local people maintained the loss was much higher.

Behera said the volume of crop loss in the district was yet to be assessed fully as reports of damage from all blocks have not arrived.

"It will take some more days to make a final report," Behera added.

Besides brown planthopper (BPH), some other pests were also found to have affected the crops, he asserted.

A six-member team, led by entomologist Bhagaban Patra of OUAT, had visited the district on Friday.

The team interacted with the affected farmers and agriculture officers of Aska, Hinjili, Sorada and Bhanjanagar blocks.

Before leaving the district, Patra had said the team would submit its report to the government with suggestions.