In a move to protect the infestation of the maize by fall army worm, the state Agriculture Department has constituted three action teams to combat the spread of the devastating pest in the agricultural fields.
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Laltanpuii Vanchhong, the director of the State Agriculture Department has issued a press note in this regard on Wednesday.
“The teams shall visit the infested districts of Chandel, Churachandpur, Imphal West and Thoubal with effect from Thursday along with the Emamectin benzoate (a kind of pesticide) recommended by Ministry of Agriculture farmer welfare, Department of agriculture Corporation (Plant Protection-I),” said the director of Agriculture.
Farmers cultivating maize are instructed to examine closely tender shoot and leaf of their standing maize crop. As it is found that the worm normally starts attacking from these parts, the press note said.
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If the crop is found to be infested, the farmers are informed to take up the following measures, spray Emamectin benzoate at the rate of 0.4g/litre of water or spinosal at the rate of 0.3 ml/litre or Thiamethoxam 12.6 per cent plus Lambdacyhalothrim 9.5 per cent at the rate of 0.5ml/litre of water oc Chlorantranilliprole 18.5 per cent SC at the rate of 0.4ml/litre of water, it directed.
The farmers are also advised to contact the district agriculture officers or the Krishi Vigyan Kendras for theirt technical support.
It may be mentioned that after the formal detection of the devastating pest in the maize fields of ICAR at Lamphel and Langol besides Chandonpokpi village farm in Chandel district, many farmers residing in other parts of the state including those in the Imphal West district and Thoubal district have also lodged similar complains of detecting the worm in their maize plants.
According to sources, the pest, which is rapidly multiplying and causing extensive damage to standing crops and plants as the female Fall Army worm can travel up to around 100 km in a night.
The neighbouring Mizoram authority has informed that about an estimated crop loss of Rs 20 crore caused by an outbreak of the fall army worm in the State where maize cultivation on 1,747.9 hectares in 122 villages have been affected.