Sambalpur: The increased worries of farmers over brown plant hopper (BPH) attack on the paddy and non-paddy crops in Sambalpur district took a different turn today with the farmers’ union today staging a demonstration outside the Deputy Director of Agriculture's office here. The farmers gheraoed the district deputy director of agriculture by forcing him to sit down in an open space to apprise him of their problems along with measures to mitigate the issue.
Following the gherao, Sambalpur DDA Pradosh Samal shot a letter to the deputy director of agriculture, Bhubaneswar with detailed block-wise information on the BPH destruction in paddy and non paddy crops. The letter addressed to Deputy Director of Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, stated that of the total 20 blocks in the district, 9 are badly affected by the pest. As many as 534 villages under 137 panchayats are affected due to the pest menace, the letter added.
The farmers alleged inaction of the Agriculture department in fighting the issue and stated that the department is yet to take any step to control the pest menace due to which they have incurred huge losses.
"Brown plant hoppers have started attacking the crops after the sudden increase in temperature, forcing us to spend extra money on labour and chemical sprays. The agriculture department is least bothered about the problems we are facing," alleged a farmer.
A total of 5658 hectares land has been affected by the BPH incidence, of which, 4167 hectares is below economic threshold level (ETL).
Another farmer said that if they do not use sprays, brown plant hopper would suck the juices out of the crops, which would reduce the crop yield.
“The attack of the brown plant hopper is so infectious that if it is not controlled immediately, it spreads to nearby farms depending on the direction of the wind,” alleged another farmer.
The farmers further demanded that the chemicals that are necessary to control the menace should be provided to them at subsidised rates.
Meanwhile, official sources said surveys are being conducted in the district after which they would suggest steps to the farmers to control the pest attack.