Vidarbha Farmers Face Pest Infestation Crisis

Times of India · india

Farmers in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region are grappling with a severe pest infestation crisis, exacerbated by prolonged dry spells and a weak monsoon. Standing paddy crops are being ravaged by aphids, thrips, and fungal diseases, with repeated pesticide spraying proving ineffective. A distressed farmer's call to minister Dattatraya Bharane highlighted the widespread issue, prompting an agriculture department response. Experts attribute the surge in pests to erratic rainfall creating ideal breeding conditions, threatening significant crop losses across paddy-growing districts.