CUTTACK: THE National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack has come forward to make a comprehensive field inquiry, investigation, analysis and research to ascertain the cause and suggest remedy for the Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) pest attack on crops in the State. A special team of scientists led by Chief of Crop Protection Division Dr Mayabini Jena has been touring some of the worst affected districts - Bargarh, Ganjam and Gajapati to conduct a detailed study.
The team will collect samples of the pest and also detailed information, including the varieties of paddy seeds used, time and method of cultivation, quality and condition of soil. They will also prepare a plan to curb the menace of the pest attack, said Director, NRRI, Cuttack, Dr Himansu Pathak. “The team is likely to submit its reports for necessary investigation and research works,” Pathak said. Preliminary investigation has ascertained that Brown Plant Hoppers are making reproducing rapidly due to favourable environment that evolved this year, he said adding environment with excess humidity and middle standard warmth facilitate BPH to multiply in numbers.
The humidity level had continued to remain high in the atmosphere for more days and there was no substantial relief from the warmth because of incessant rain due to low pressure during the time while the paddy plants were at the flowering stage in the current season, Pathak ascertained adding that NRRI has already found a scientific method to save crops from pest attack. Besides, those farmers who have sown different varieties of paddy seeds having low resistance suffer total crop loss due to pest attack, he said and advised the farmers to opt for paddy seeds having high resistance power in order to keep their crops away from pests.