Latest news with #SRBSDV
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Farmers urge Modi to stand firm against US tariffs, calls for ban on US companies
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that the country 'will never compromise on the interests of its farmers,' farmer leaders from Haryana urged the Modi government to impose a ban on American companies operating in India as a befitting response to the US move to hike tariffs. President of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) Gurnam Singh Chaduni thanked the Centre for taking a stand for farmers. Urging the Prime Minister to act decisively, he added, 'American companies functioning in India and trying to control the market should be thrown out. When they are ready to destroy us, why should we spare them? Why have we given them a place in our country?' Chaduni added, 'When you take a stand, the country will stand by you and this would cause fear among countries such as America. Otherwise, they will threaten us in the future too.' He added that people should stop buying products of American companies. 'We have seen in Gharaunda (Karnal) where American companies have opened three malls and were given special concessions. Why are we supporting them? We oppose Donald Trump and his policies. In future, we will hold protests against them,' he added. He added, 'We believe that America wants India to open its agriculture, fisheries, and dairy sectors to its large corporations and multinational companies, which goes against the interests of our farmers. More than half of India's population depends on agriculture, and ignoring their interests cannot be accepted under any circumstances.' Pagdi Sambhal Jatta Kisan Sangharsh Samiti president Mandeep Nathwan said, 'If the PM is true to his commitment, the Centre should impose a ban on American companies operating in India.' Paddy dwarfing: Virus hits paddy again, BKU seeks compensation Chaduni Friday approached also Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini seeking compensation for farmers whose paddy crops have suffered losses due to the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV). Farmers said that the virus has caused dwarfing of rice plants across several regions of the state. In a letter to the CM, BKU (Chaduni) president Gurnam Singh Chaduni said that the disease has severely impacted paddy crops in Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kaithal, Jind, Panipat, Rohtak, and Sonipat districts — mirroring the outbreak seen in 2022. Chaduni also urged the government to implement preventive measures to safeguard future crops and mitigate recurring losses due to SRBSDV. Sukhbir Siwach's extensive and in-depth coverage of farmer agitation against three farm laws during 2020-21 drew widespread attention. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Paddy farmers grapple with dwarf virus, seek compensation for crop loss
Weeks after a mysterious disease was first reported in Ambala's paddy fields, farmers across Haryana's key rice-producing districts—Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Kaithal, and Yamunanagar—are alarmed by stunted crop growth linked to the Southern Rice Black Streak Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV). The disease, which causes dwarfing in plants, has affected large swathes of farmland and led to mounting losses, prompting farmers to demand a special girdawari (crop damage survey) and compensation. Field survey being conducted by a team from the Centre to assess damage to the paddy crop in Karnal on Thursday. (HT Photo) The virus has been found primarily in high-yielding, early transplanted non-basmati paddy varieties such as PR 114, PR 131, and PR 126—especially those sown between June 15 and 20. Field surveys by the state agriculture department, state universities, and central agencies have confirmed widespread presence. According to district data, about 5,000 acres in Karnal's Assandh and Nissing blocks, 6,500 acres in Kurukshetra's Ladwa and Pehowa blocks, and another 6,500 acres in Ambala's Mullana, Saha, and Naraingarh blocks are severely impacted. Deputy director agriculture (Ambala), Jasvinder Saini, warned that if not addressed promptly, the virus could reduce yields by up to 80%. Farmers have been advised to uproot and bury infected plants and regularly monitor their fields. 'Many in my area have already ploughed up 30-40% of the affected fields,' he said. Farmers say that despite efforts, the infection persists. Isham Singh from Indri in Karnal, who cultivated paddy on 11 acres, said he has used the recommended insecticides but with no success. 'There's no cure. We used to get 28–30 quintals, now we may get just 14,' he said, adding that expenses have only gone up. Sandeep Sharma from Pehowa echoed similar concerns. 'A portion of my field is infected, but my cousins in Ambala have suffered more. There's no solution, and the government is silent. We need a special girdawari,' he said. A central team led by Vandana Pandey, deputy director (plant pathology), RCIPMC, Faridabad, surveyed the affected districts from August 5–7. During their visit to Khawaja Ahmadpur in Karnal, the team identified the white-backed plant hopper—the vector responsible for spreading SRBSDV. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Pandey said the symptoms resemble the 2022 outbreak, and samples from affected fields have been sent to labs for confirmation. 'Many farmers have already sprayed insecticides. But we urge them not to spray unless hoppers are actually seen,' she said. Farmer unions have raised the issue with the government. Gurnam Singh Charuni, president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni), said that apart from the virus, excessive rains and waterlogging have added to farmers' woes. 'This disease is beyond farmers' control and has ruined crops. The administration must conduct a fair assessment of the losses and provide timely compensation,' he said. Charuni also stressed the need for long-term disease management strategies. Inderjit Singh Goraya, national spokesperson of the All India Kisan Congress, criticised the government for inaction. 'The time for transplantation is over. Farmers can't replant. The government should have acted earlier, especially by regulating seed variety sales. Losses may exceed ₹10–15 lakh,' he said. To contain the spread, DDA Kurukshetra Karam Chand recommended insecticide sprays once 5–10 adult aphids are visible per plant. He suggested using 80 grams of dinotefuran 20% SG or 120 grams of pymetrozine 50% WG per acre, mixed in 200 liters of water. Haryana's Agriculture and Farmers Welfare director Rajnarayan Kaushik did not respond to calls or messages.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Patiala farmers re-transplanting paddy as dwarf virus spreads
A few farmers in Patiala district are re-transplanting paddy in areas affected by the dwarf virus as a measure to mitigate the impact of widespread crop damage. They are reportedly resorting to this action after experiencing repeated failures in controlling the virus outbreak despite using recommended insecticides. A few farmers in Patiala district are re-transplanting paddy in areas affected by the dwarf virus as a measure to mitigate the impact of widespread crop damage. They are reportedly resorting to this action after experiencing repeated failures in controlling the virus outbreak despite using recommended insecticides. (HT Photo) The distressed farmers have blamed Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana, for their losses as they had sown university's recommended seed procured from the university itself. The Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV), causing a rice dwarf disease, poses a significant threat to rice production in Punjab, with notable damage reported in several districts this year. Experts say the white-backed planthopper (WBPH) has been known to be the primary vector responsible for spreading SRBSDV. The virus affects rice plants by stunting its growth, leading to narrow, upright leaves, poor root and shoot development, and a drastic reduction in plant height, often to half or even one-third of normal size. In severe cases, plants may wither and die prematurely, resulting in substantial yield loss. Farmer Gurvinder Singh of Bathoi Kalan village in Patiala, whose 10 acres of paddy fields has been affected by the attack of dwarf virus, said, 'I am completely shattered. I tried all the possible pesticides to stop the spread but to no avail. Though I have decided to re-transplant paddy, I am finding it difficult to procure seedlings.' Another distressed farmer, whose eight acres of paddy have been affected by the attack of dwarf virus, said, 'Despite sowing PAU-recommended varieties of paddy, our crops have been under attack by this virus. Now, insecticides recommended by PAU are not working against the virus. Constantly, we are left with no other option but to re-transplant the paddy.' As per the Punjab agriculture department, around 510 hectares of paddy fields have been affected in Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, Nawanshahr, Ropar and Mohali. PAU experts said that the virus has hit early-transplanted fields hardest, particularly in varieties like PR 114, PR 128, PR 131. Meanwhile, Basant Garg, secretary, agriculture and farmers' welfare, said, 'The disease is reported only in a few districts. Our teams, along with experts from PAU, Ludhiana, have been visiting paddy fields. They have been informing farmers about the solution and helping them to minimise the losses.'
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Farmers seek compensation for massive crop loss in Haryana due to virus outbreak, waterlogging
KURUKSHETRA: In an appeal to Haryana chief minister (CM) Nayab Singh Saini, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Charuni representatives from across the state have demanded immediate compensation for the losses incurred due to a virus outbreak in paddy crops and widespread waterlogging caused by excessive rainfall. In a letter addressed to CM Saini, BKU Charuni the farmers highlighted that this year, paddy crop across thousands of acres in multiple districts—including Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kaithal, Jind, Panipat, Rohtak, and Sonipat—have been severely affected by two viral diseases: Southern Rice Black Streak Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV) and Rice Gall Dwarf Virus (RGDV) . These diseases have resulted in stunted plant growth and root rot, rendering entire fields barren. According to agricultural experts, the virus outbreak is a relatively new phenomenon in the region and beyond the control of the farming community. Scientific surveys have confirmed the presence of these viruses and attributed the crop damage directly to them. In addition to the viral infestation, prolonged monsoon rains have caused waterlogging in fields, further compounding the crisis. This dual blow has left hundreds of farmers—both small and large landholders—facing serious financial distress. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Blood cancer is taking our curious baby away from us! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola In their petition, the farmers have made two key demands: Proactive Government Intervention: The state government should take immediate and long-term steps to improve crop protection, seed quality, and disease control mechanisms to prevent such disasters in the future. Transparent Loss Assessment and Compensation: Authorities must conduct a fair, transparent, and prompt survey of the losses caused by both the virus and waterlogging. Based on this assessment, adequate compensation should be disbursed to all affected farmers without delay. Calling the situation 'unprecedented,' the letter urges CM Saini to take swift action to relieve the suffering of Haryana's farming community and ensure their financial recovery. The appeal comes at a time when farmers across the state are already reeling from rising input costs and unpredictable weather patterns, further underlining the urgent need for government support.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian visits virus-hit paddy fields in Ropar villages
Patiala: Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian visited the villages of Marolikalan, Kakrali, and Paprali in Ropar district on Friday to assess the impact of the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV) on paddy crops and interacted with farmers to understand their concerns. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The cabinet minister said in recent days, symptoms of stunted growth in paddy fields have been reported by farmers in the Ropar district. Upon receiving this information, experts from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and the department of agriculture and farmers' welfare, Ropar, jointly conducted field inspections in several villages, including the farms of Gurmeet Singh and Avtar Singh in the village of Asmanpur, block Ropar. He said Ropar is currently the worst affected district by this disease. After on-ground assessment and expert consultations, special measures are being undertaken to control the spread of the suspected virus The minister emphasised that the situation is under control, and the agriculture department has issued directives for field visits and timely arrangements for appropriate insecticides to spread awareness among farmers. During the review, it was observed that paddy varieties PR-128 and PR-131 showed signs of irregular growth post-transplantation. Some plants were found infected with the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV). Experts noted that the root systems of the affected plants were poorly developed compared to healthy plants. The leaves were narrow and pointed like needles, and escape roots (auxiliary root systems) were seen on the stems — symptoms consistent with a viral attack. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The minister confirmed that plant samples from affected fields were sent to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, for confirmation. Farmers have been advised to inspect their fields regularly, including nurseries, as healthy nursery plants are crucial for robust crop growth. The director of the agriculture and farmers' welfare department said field teams are continuously visiting farms, and farmers are being advised to apply recommended insecticides, particularly targeting white-backed planthoppers, to prevent further spread of the virus. Joint director Narinder Singh Benipal said that special awareness camps on pest management are being organised in the villages of Morinda and Sri Chamkaur Sahib blocks of the Ropar district under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme. Chief agriculture officer Rakesh Kumar said the university is closely monitoring the virus, and there is no need for panic. If the damage is limited to 5–10%, the disease can still be controlled effectively. MSID:: 122907615 413 |
