Retest effectiveness of fungicide for yellow rust, govt asked

Retest effectiveness of fungicide for yellow rust, govt asked
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 25
With reports about yellow rust affecting the wheat crop in hill areas of the state, NC legislator Ajay Sadhotra asked Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir in the Legislative Council here today about the steps taken by the government to save the crop of farmers in hill areas.

Moving a calling attention motion in the Upper House, Sadhotra said, “As 70 per cent of the standing wheat crop in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts has been destroyed, what steps the government has taken to save the crop of the farmers of hill areas, as yellow rust has hit these areas too”.

He also challenged the effectiveness of the fungicide spray being distributed by the government among the farmers with 50 per cent subsidy.

Sadhotra asked, “The government should conduct a test in the laboratory to judge the effectiveness of this spray on the affected crop, as a number of farmers have complained about the poor results of this fungicide”.

On this, the Agriculture Minister said, “The fungicide (propiconazole) being distributed to the farmers at subsidised rates is already tested and if the members feel to get its effectiveness tested again, we will get it done and submit its report in a short period”.

Mir appreciated the concern shown by Sadhotra for the farming community and said, “The government has been trying its best to save the crop and overcome the disease. If required, we will surely take more steps”.

Mir informed the House that yellow rust had affected the wheat crop on 51,367 hectares in the Jammu region.

“Of this, yellow rust has damaged the wheat crop on 1,367 hectares in hill areas,” said Mir. He added that Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Doda and Ramban districts were included in the areas affected by the disease.

During the calling attention motion, Sadhotra took Mir to task for a number of times. “During this season, the first case of yellow rust was detected in December last year, but due to the dilly-dallying approach of the officials of the Agriculture Department they took notice of it only in March, thus causing huge losses to the farmers,” said Sadhotra.

Before winding up his speech, Sadhotra demanded that if the government wanted to save the farmers, it should take some long-term steps so that the disease could be controlled in the coming years.

He urged the state government to increase the supply of fungicides and take the help of experts from neighbouring states. The Agriculture Minister accepted his suggestion.