Farm Advisory Service Centre Gangian (Hopshiarpur) and PAU Experts creates awareness on management of southern rice black streak dwarf virus in rice/ basmati rice

Ludhiana, July 21, 2023: For creating awareness among farmers on management of insect pest and diseases of rice/basmati rice, the Farm Advisory Service Centre, Gangian, Hoshiarpur and the Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana organized farmers –scientist interaction in village Changla, block Dasuya, Hoshiarpur on July 20.

At the outset, Dr. Charanjeet Kaur, Senior Extension Scientist (SM) FASC Gangian extended a warm welcome to the PAU experts, the farmers & farmwomen present on this occasion. She informed the farmers that last year the problem of stunted plants in rice was reported from districts of Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Mohali, Ludhiana, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala which affected rice crop to large extent. On this occasion Dr. Mandeep Hunjan, Principal Plant Bacterologist informed in detail the farmers about the symptoms of dwarfing/stunting of paddy plants due to the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV). He advised the farmers to monitor the field population of white backed planthopper on weekly basis as this insect can transmit this virus. He also stressed the need to adopt Punjab Agricultural University recommended agronomic practices for the cultivation of recommended rice/basmati rice varieties.

Dr Dr Amarjit Singh, Principal Extension Scientist (Plant Pathology) apprised the farmers about the protection of rice crop from various diseases and also about the judicious use of fertilizers/ pesticides to conserve the natural resources. He further enlightens about the occurrence of different diseases in rice from sowing till harvesting and their preventive measures. He further added that seed treatment helps to manage insect-pests and diseases prior to their attack, requires less quantity of pesticides, is effective and at the same time an environment-friendly approach also.

Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, DES (Entomology) guided the farmers regarding incidence of various insect pest on rice. He further motivated the farmers for proper identification, monitoring, surveillance and timely management of these insect pests. Dr Indira Devi, DES (Horticulture) advised the farmers to adopt kitchen and nutritional garden for nutritional security. She also guided the farmers for growing of vegetable kits for fulfilment of household requirement of vegetables rather than purchasing vegetables from market. Dr Lovejeet Singh, ADO, Tanda threw light on different schemes provided by the department for the welfare of the farmers. On this occasion progressive farmers of the area including Sarpanch of village S. Davinder Singh, S. Sherpartap Singh, S. Sahib Singh Sahi, S. Hardeep Singh, S. Amardeep Singh, S. Balraj Singh, S. Chandandeep Singh etc.were also present and had fruitful discussion with the experts.