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Time of India
7 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Leafhopper outbreak threatens cotton crop in North India: SABC
Bathinda: South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), a scientific organisation, has flagged infestation of green leafhoppers (jassid), commonly known as "hara tela" on cotton across major cotton-growing districts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The infestation has impacted Mansa, Bathinda, Fazilka in Punjab; Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa in Haryana and Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan. SABC observed the outbreak during a field survey conducted under Project Bandhan by the Jodhpur-based centre, which has its research and development wing in Sirsa. The field team led by Dilip Monga, Bhagirath Choudhary, Naresh, Deepak Jakhar and K S Bhardwaj reported infestation levels of 12 to 15 leafhoppers per leaf, significantly above the economic threshold level (ETL). The field survey also reported cotton leaf injuries exceeding ETL based on the damage grading system. For the past three consecutive weeks, green leafhopper (jassid) populations have exceeded ETL, triggering yellowing of leaf margins and downward curling, classic symptoms of a jassid attack. The outbreak is being attributed to a confluence of weather conditions, including above average rainfall, an increased number of rainy days, persistent humidity and cloud cover, all of which have created ideal conditions for jassid proliferation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Patna: 1 Trick to Reduce Belly Fat? Home Fitness Hack Shop Now Undo Fields were graded from three to four, based on the ICAR-CICR infestation scale, indicating severe to extreme damage. "The leafhopper infestation has emerged at a time when overall conditions are significantly better than the past three to four years. The crop appears to be robust across the northern region, except in late-sown areas of Sri Ganganagar, where irrigation was unavailable during the sowing period", said Bhagirath Choudhary, director, South Asia Biotechnology Centre's high-tech R&D station, Sirsa. Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) leafhopper is commonly referred to as an Indian cotton jassid or "hara tela". Leafhopper adults are very active, pale green in colour, measuring about 3.5mm in length, with two distinct black spots on forewings and vertex. They are readily identified by their characteristic diagonal movement on the leaves and are hence referred to as "leafhoppers". Population of leafhoppers occurs throughout the season but attains pest status during July-August. Up to 11 generations per season have been estimated to occur on cotton. Both nymphs and adults of leafhoppers suck the cell sap from cotton tissue and inject toxin, causing "hopper burn" symptom, characterised by yellowing, browning, and drying of leaves. The affected leaves show crinkling and curling symptoms. In extreme situations, there is reduced photosynthetic activity, browning and drying of leaves that can considerably hamper productivity of the cotton, and yield losses of up to 30%, if left unmanaged. PAU scientist Paramjit Singh said that there was no cause for alarm as the leafhopper was only a little above ETL. However, the survey team noted that failure to control the green leafhopper infestation promptly could lead to damage to the cotton crop in the coming days. Farmers must remain alert and take immediate action to manage the pest effectively to avoid potential yield losses. SABC has urged cotton farmers to adopt science-backed measures to effectively manage and control the growing menace of green leafhoppers (jassids). Such measures include regular field monitoring, accurate pest identification and assessment of infestation severity. Recommendations include use of neem-based bio-insecticides or other eco-friendly, organic pesticides to manage mild infestations and spray during early morning or late evening, when the wind is calm. It is important to ensure thorough coverage, especially on the underside of leaves, where pests usually hide. Farmers must also eliminate weeds within the field and along borders, since they serve as alternative hosts for leafhoppers and other pests. Pic: Survey in Sahnewali village in Mansa and Sirsa Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Leafhopper outbreak threatens cotton crop in region
1 2 Bathinda: The South Asia Biotechnology Centre, a scientific organisation, has revealed an infestation of green leafhoppers (jassid), commonly known as 'hara tela', on cotton across major cotton-growing districts of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The impact is notable in Mansa, Bathinda, and Fazilka in Punjab, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa in Haryana, and Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan. SABC observed the outbreak during a field survey conducted under Project Bandhan by the Jodhpur-based centre, which has its research and development centre at Sirsa. The field team, led by Dilip Monga, Bhagirath Choudhary, Naresh, Deepak Jakhar, and KS Bhardwaj, reported infestation levels of 12-15 leafhoppers per leaf, significantly above the Economic Threshold Level (ETL). The field survey also reported cotton leaf injuries exceeding ETL based on the damage grading system. For the past three consecutive weeks, green leafhopper (jassid) populations exceeded ETL, triggering yellowing of leaf margins and downward curling, classic symptoms of jassid attack. The outbreak is attributed to a confluence of weather conditions, including above-average rainfall, an increased number of rainy days, persistent humidity, and cloud cover, all of which created ideal conditions for jassid proliferation. Fields were graded 3 to 4 based on the ICAR-CICR infestation scale, indicating severe to extreme damage. "The leafhopper infestation emerged at a time when the overall conditions are significantly better than the past three to four years. The crop appears robust across the northern region, except in late-sown areas of Sri Ganganagar, where irrigation was unavailable during the sowing period," stated Bhagirath Choudhary, director of the South Asia Biotechnology Centre's High-Tech R&D Station, Sirsa. Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida), commonly referred to as the Indian cotton jassid or 'hara tela', is a season-long sucking pest of cotton. Leafhopper adults are very active, pale green in colour, measuring about 3.5mm in length with two distinct black spots on forewings and vertex, readily identified by their characteristic diagonal movement on the leaves, hence referred to as 'leafhoppers'. The population of leafhoppers occurs throughout the season but attains pest status during July-August. Up to 11 generations per season have been estimated to occur on cotton. Both nymphs and adults of leafhoppers suck the cell sap from the cotton tissue and inject toxins, causing the 'hopper burn' symptom, characterised by yellowing, browning, and drying of leaves. The affected leaves show crinkling and curling symptoms, and in extreme situations, result in reduced photosynthetic activity, browning, and drying of leaves, which can considerably hamper the productivity of the cotton, leading to yield losses of up to 30% if unmanaged. Leafhopper ≥5 plants showing damage grade II/III/IV, grade II shows minor crinkling, curling, and yellowing in lower leaves, grade III is observed with leaf crinkling, curling, and crinkling across the plant; stunted growth, grade IV with severe bronzing, crinkling, curling, and drying of leaves. If ≥5 plants per 20 sampled show grade II or above damage, immediate action is necessary, said Research Scientist Deepak Jakhar. However, PAU Scientist Paramjit Singh said there is no alarming situation as the leafhopper is only slightly above ETL. The survey team noted that failure to control this green leafhopper infestation promptly could lead to damage to the cotton crop in the coming days. Farmers must remain alert and take immediate action to manage the pest effectively to avoid potential yield losses. SABC has urged cotton farmers to adopt science-backed measures to effectively manage and control the growing menace of green leafhoppers (jassids), such as regular field monitoring, accurate pest identification, and assessing infestation severity. It has been recommended to use neem-based bio-insecticides or other eco-friendly, organic pesticides to manage mild infestations. Spray during early morning or late evening when the wind is calm. Ensure thorough coverage, especially on the underside of leaves, where pests usually hide. Eliminate weeds within the field and along borders, as they serve as alternative hosts for leafhoppers and other pests. MSID:: 123021342 413 |
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Green leafhopper returns to Punjab after several years, farmer brace for 30% loss in yields
Green leafhopper, also known as Indian cotton jassid and locally as hara tela, has returned to cotton fields across north India in unexpectedly high numbers this season after several years, damaging the crop at several places and triggering concern among farmers. Experts attribute the sudden surge in jassid population to favourable weather conditions — above-average rainfall, persistent humidity, an increase in rainy days, and continuous cloud cover, all of which have created a perfect breeding environment for the pest and can lead to a potential yield loss up to 30 per cent. Farmer Harjinder Singh from Sahnewali village in Mansa district said that the green leafhopper has attacked his entire 4-acre cotton crop, and he expects a 20–25 per cent loss in yield this year. He added that his entire village grows only cotton, and not a single farmer's field has been spared this season. Harjinder said that no official from the agriculture department has visited the village to assess the crop damage so far. When The Indian Express reached out to Punjab Director of Agriculture Jaswant Singh about the recent impact of the pest on cotton crops, he did not provide any response to multiple phone calls or messages. Fauja Singh and Kewal Singh, also from Sahnewali, reported hara tela infestation on their 25-acre and 15-acre cotton crops respectively. Manpreet Singh, a farmer from Chormar village in Sirsa district of Haryana, is facing a similar situation. His entire 17-acre cotton crop is affected, and he too expects a 20–25 per cent loss in yield. 'Our village also grows only cotton, and this year, not a single field has remained unaffected,' he said. Bittu Singh from the same village said he initially mistook the yellowing and curling of leaves as rain damage, but soon realised it was due to hara tela. 'We delayed spraying the recommended insecticides, and now only some plants show signs of recovery,' he claimed. Jagjeet Singh of Chak Hira Singhwali village in Tehsil Sangaria, Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, said the pest has attacked his entire 45-bigha cotton crop. 'The infestation is not limited to my village — it has spread across the entire tehsil. We don't know how to save our crop,' he said. Farmers Gurmeet Singh from Singhpura village (Sirsa), Makhan Singh from Mansa, and many others have also reported similar attacks. These are not isolated cases — hara tela has been reported from numerous villages across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, which together form the cotton belt of north India. A field survey conducted under Project Bandhan by the South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), Jodhpur, has confirmed a significant rise in jassid presence in major cotton-growing districts of Haryana (Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa), Punjab (Mansa, Bathinda, Abohar, Fazilka), and Rajasthan (Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar). Infestation levels of 12–15 leafhoppers per leaf were reported — well above the Economic Threshold Level (ETL), along with visible leaf damage reaching Grade III and IV severity. 'In our survey a severe outbreak of green leafhopper was noticed in several villages of north India's cotton belt, posing a significant threat to the cotton crop across Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. This rise in the jassid population comes after several years and is largely due to this year's prolonged wet and humid weather conditions — above-average rainfall, high humidity, and overcast skies,' Dr Bhagirath Choudhary, Founder & Director of SABC's High-Tech R&D Station in Sirsa, Haryana said, adding that this pest has returned to the fields after a gap of several years. 'The leafhopper infestation has emerged at a time when the cotton crop was showing great promise compared to the past 3–4 years,' Bhagirath said. This resurgence is significant because leafhopper, unlike the other two major sucking pests of cotton — whitefly and thrips — thrives in dry conditions, while this flourishes in wet climate. Experts say that although whitefly and thrips typically dominate headlines during drought years, this year's monsoon pattern has created a conducive environment for jassid to flourish. 'This could lead to a widespread outbreak because at some places it is already quite severe and the pest has appeared in considerable numbers and needs to be managed promptly to prevent damage,' Dr Dilip Monga, former head of CICR Regional Research Station, Sirsa, said. 'Farmers must take the advisory seriously.' Field symptoms, as recorded by the survey team, include yellowing of leaf margins, downward curling, crinkling, and bronzing — are all classic signs of jassid attack. Under the ICAR-CICR grading system, most affected fields are falling under Grade III or IV, which represents severe stress on the plant, and potential yield losses of up to 30 per cent if not managed. What farmers should know: Leafhopper profile and damage The green leafhopper, a season-long sucking pest of cotton, is a 3.5-mm pale green insect identified by its two black spots and quick, diagonal movement on leaves. Both nymphs and adults suck sap from the leaf tissue and inject toxins, leading to what experts call 'hopper burn' (blackish or brownish colour of the leaf). The damage reduces photosynthesis, stunts plant growth, and in extreme conditions, dries out leaves altogether. According to ICAR-CICR, the Economic Threshold Level (ETL) is considered breached when more than 5 out of 20 sampled plants show Grade II symptoms — minor leaf colouring and yellowing — or worse. Grade III indicates crinkling across the plant and stunted growth, while Grade IV includes severe bronzing, drying, and curling of leaves. 'Most fields surveyed this year have exceeded the ETL, making timely intervention essential,' Bhagirath said. He added that the SABC team has issued science-backed advisory steps under Project Bandhan and the High-Tech Regenerative Cotton Farming programme. 'Regular field monitoring is a must. Inspect fields at least twice a week, especially the undersides of leaves where jassids tend to hide. Look for small, green, mobile insects, and symptoms such as yellowing leaf margins and curling. For severity assessment, if more than two jassids per leaf are observed or if the damage is at Grade II or above, immediate intervention is required,' Bhagirath added. For early-stage infestation, neem oil or eco-friendly bio-insecticides are advised. In case of severe infestation, farmers should use one of the following insecticides — rotating them to prevent resistance: Tolfenpyrad 15 EC (300 ml/acre), Fenpyroximate 5 EC (300 ml/acre), Flonicamid 50 WG (80 gm/acre), Dinotefuran 20 SG (60 gm/acre), or Thiamethoxam 25 WG (40 gm/acre). Experts recommend spraying either in the early morning or late evening, ensuring thorough coverage of the leaf undersides. They also advise clearing weeds within and around the fields, as these can host jassids and other pests. Field observations have revealed widespread yellowing of leaf margins and downward curling — classic signs of leafhopper attack. Based on the ICAR-CICR grading scale, most fields have recorded Grade III to IV damage, indicating severe to extreme injury. This has made the current outbreak the worst jassid infestation in over a decade in the region.
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Reviving ‘white gold': how regenerative cotton farming can be a gamechanger in North India
Once hailed as 'white gold,' cotton—the backbone of India's textile economy—is facing a crisis in North India. Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan have been grappling with steep declines in area, yield, and quality due to persistent pink bollworm (PBW) infestations, whitefly attacks, Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV), and soil-borne diseases such as boll rot and root rot. Coupled with erratic weather patterns, including prolonged dry spells and irregular rainfall, the cotton belt of North India is at a crossroads. In this backdrop, a groundbreaking demonstration of regenerative cotton farming in Haryana's Sirsa district has shown a promising way forward when the cotton sowing season has just begun in North India. During the Kharif 2024 season, the South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), Jodhpur, under Project Bandhan and with support from the PI Foundation and Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Central Institute for Cotton Research (ICAR-CICR) in Nagpur, conducted a high-tech regenerative cotton sowing trial at the North India High-Tech R&D station in Gindran village. The results, recently published in a report titled 'Reviving Cotton in North India through High-Tech Regenerative Farming,' have led to new hope across the cotton-growing community. Launched at the Cotton Association of India (CAI)'s farmer training programme on April 11–12 in Mumbai, the initiative garnered the attention of leading agricultural experts, including CAI president Atul S Ganatra, Indian Society for Cotton Improvement (ISCI) president Dr C D Mayee, and SABC's Dr Bhagirath Choudhary. During the demonstration, around 2,500 farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan were trained in the regenerative cotton farming technique. The demonstration plots – which integrated modern agronomic practices with drip fertigation and other regenerative techniques – recorded significantly higher yields than traditional methods. Fertigation is a technique that applies fertilizer directly to plants through an irrigation system. The scientists adopted several methods including drip fertigation and mechanical detopping (flat bed), and got 16.70 quintals yield per acre; drip fertigation, raised bed, polymulch and mechanical detopping, and got 15.97 quintals yield per acre; drip fertigation, flat bed and canopy management (mepiquat chloride) and got 15.25 quintals yield per acre; while with conventional control plots they received just 4.21–6.53 quintals yield per acre. 'Micro-irrigation techniques, especially drip systems, helped participating farmers save up to 60 per cent of irrigation water compared to conventional flood irrigation methods. Moreover, drip fertigation dramatically improved fertilizer use efficiency—with 54 per cent higher nitrogen uptake, 33 per cent for phosphorus, and 79 per cent for sulphur,' said Dr Choudhary, adding that these productivity and resource-use gains translated into substantial economic benefits. The net profit ratio of demonstration plots stood at 2.99, far surpassing 2.21 and 1.54 recorded in conventional control plots. Farmer Manoj Kumar of Gindran village said he had brought 1.5 acres of land under regenerative cotton farming under the guidance of Dr Dilip Monga, former head of ICAR-CICR RRS, Sirsa, and who is part of this demonstration, and Dr Choudhary. Kumar recorded a yield of 16 quintals per acre. In contrast, the yield from the traditionally sown field was only 8 quintals per acre, even though the same seed was used in both plots—the only difference being the technique. 'This time, I am planning to bring around 8 acres under this technique,' he said. Kumar added that last year, several farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan visited his fields to learn about the method. He emphasized that farmers need proper guidance to enhance their yields. He said, 'If I am earning double from the same field with lower input costs, why wouldn't I increase the area under this method?' Ganatra said that in this study, the key technological interventions were drip irrigation and fertigation which ensured precise delivery of water and nutrients, improving plant stand and reducing wastage. Pink bollworm (PBW) management using PB Knot technology was very helpful for mating disruption and pheromone traps and cutting pesticide usage by 18–27per cent. Scientists said climate-smart tools were used which encouraged solar-powered irrigation and water storage tanks to enhance sustainability. And the main emphasis was on disease prevention by using resistant varieties and pre-emptive disease control strategies. The result was enhanced germination (up to 95 per cent), healthier crop growth, reduced chemical dependency, and more sustainable cotton cultivation. Experts believe the Gindran demonstration could be a template for cotton revival across North India, provided certain systemic supports are ensured, including mainstreaming drip fertigation as a standard farming practice, scaling up Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches, promoting climate-resilient infrastructure like solar pumps and water tanks, and ensuring access to finance, inputs, and training for small and marginal farmers. Dr Choudhary emphasised, 'This is not just about higher yields; it is about transforming cotton into a sustainable, profitable, and environmentally responsible crop once again.' 'Beyond boosting farm income, this model offers hope for ginners (who remove seeds and debris from cotton), spinners, and the textile industry that have been hit hard by declining cotton supply in the North. Punjab alone has seen several ginning units shut due to reduced cotton arrivals. By restoring productivity and area under cultivation, the regenerative cotton model could help North India reclaim its position as a leading cotton-growing region—a much-needed boost for both livelihoods and the rural economy,' said Ganatra. Can regenerative cotton farming bring back the glory days of 'white gold' in North India? The farmers involved in this demonstration say 'yes'. Now, it's about scaling the impact. The North Indian cotton belt – Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan – has witnessed a significant decline of around 5.58 lakh hectares in the area under cotton cultivation last year (2024-25), with Punjab leading at 50 per cent less area compared to 2023-24. In Punjab, the cotton area reduced from 2.14 lakh hectares in 2023-24 to just 1 lakh hectares last year. Rajasthan followed with a decline of 34 per cent, as the area under cotton fell from 10.04 lakh hectares in 2023-24 to 6.62 lakh hectares last year. Haryana experienced a 17 per cent decline, with cotton area decreasing from 5.78 lakh hectares in 2023-24 to 4.76 lakh hectares last year. Due to declining area under cotton, the area under paddy is increasing manifold in Punjab, which is bad news because of how paddy depletes already-low groundwater levels.
