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New Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Leafhopper outbreak in decade hits North India's cotton belt
A severe outbreak of leafhopper pests, commonly known as jassids, in the cotton fields of North India could significantly impact the country's already declining cotton production. A recent field survey conducted by the South Asia Biotechnology Centre revealed a massive infestation of green leafhoppers, referred to locally as hara tela, in key cotton-growing districts. These areas include Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa in Haryana, as well as Mansa, Bathinda, Abohar, and Fazilka in Punjab, and Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan. The survey was part of the Bandhan project, a programme run by government institutions such as the Central Institute of Cotton Research and various State Agriculture Universities, in collaboration with local non-profit organisations. The aim of this project is to assist farmers in combating Pink Bollworm pests in cotton crops. The survey team, consisting of scientists, found infestation levels of 12–15 leafhoppers per leaf—significantly above the Economic Threshold Level (ETL). The team further noted that an alarming number of cotton leaf injuries exceeded ETL, based on the damage grading system. For the past three consecutive weeks, green leafhopper (jassid) populations have exceeded ETL, allegedly triggering widespread yellowing of leaf margins and downward curling—classic symptoms of jassid attack. Scientists attribute the outbreak 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 allegedly created ideal conditions for jassid proliferation. Fields were graded 3 to 4 based on the ICAR-CICR infestation scale, indicating severe to extreme damage. Experts confirm this is the worst outbreak in a decade in the North cotton-growing zone. 'The leafhopper infestation has emerged at a time when the cotton crop stands, and overall condition, are significantly better than in 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,' noted Dr Bhagirath Choudhary, Founder & Director of South Asia Biotechnology Centre's High-Tech R&D Station, Sirsa, Haryana. The survey team noted that failure to control this green leafhopper infestation promptly could lead to substantial 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. The field team was led by scientists and cotton experts including Dr Dilip Monga, Dr Bhagirath Choudhary, Dr Naresh, Deepak Jakhar, and KS Bhardwaj.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
₹500cr Maha Agri-AI Policy Roll Out In 4 Phsases
1 2 3 Nagpur: Taking its ambitious Agri-AI vision a step forward, the Maharashtra govt has finalised a four-phase rollout plan under its ₹500-crore Maha Agri-AI Policy, aimed at transforming farming with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies. The move signals a shift from paper to ground. According to the final policy document prepared by the state agriculture department, the first phase — spread over three months — will focus on setting up the core institutions, including a high-level steering committee, a technical review panel, and a full-time AI and Agritech Innovation Centre to oversee the mission. In the next phase, expected to begin within a year, pilot projects will be launched in select districts to test AI tools like drones, geospatial systems, multilingual chatbots, and advisory platforms. Startups and research bodies will get access to anonymised farm data through a digital 'sandbox' to simulate and refine real-world solutions. Specialised AI labs will also be set up in State Agriculture Universities (SAUs) to develop region-specific innovations. Anil Tekade, a farmer from Katol, expressed his happiness over the project with caution. "AI is undoubtedly the future, and the govt's move is truly commendable. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hasta 8 meses de protección Seresto Encuéntralo Undo We are all happy to see such progress. However, the real challenge lies in ensuring that a farmer working in the field can fully understand and use this technology. The key is to educate even the last person on the ground so that the benefits truly reach everyone and the actual purpose behind the initiative is fulfilled. That, I believe, will be the real test for the administration." Phase III, planned for 2026, will focus on expanding successful pilots across the state and integrating the platforms with national digital systems such as AgriStack and Bhashini. Phase IV, beginning in 2028, will involve reviewing the results, refining the policy, and replicating the models in other rural sectors like horticulture and livestock. Of the total Rs500 crore outlay, Rs350 crore was earmarked for on-ground AI projects, including incubation and scale-up funding. Another Rs50 crore will go towards training farmers and agriculture officers in using new technologies. An equal amount will be used to build core infrastructure such as traceability tools, AI-powered advisory systems, and satellite-based crop monitoring platforms. A separate Rs20 crore is reserved for global conferences, investor summits, and hackathons to attract innovation and partnerships. Startups, private companies, SAUs, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and other research bodies will be able to submit proposals online. Ideas will be categorised into two streams — early-stage innovations needing incubation, and mature solutions ready for scale-up. A technical committee will evaluate each project and recommend the level of support. Farmers adopting approved technologies may also receive direct benefit transfers (DBT) for devices like sensors or digital tools. Experts say that it's encouraging to see the state moving beyond just vision documents. "If implemented with proper field feedback and farmer involvement, this phased approach could make Maharashtra a model for AI in farming. The key will be in handholding farmers through this shift," an expert said. With the launch plan now in place, the govt aims to turn Maharashtra into a leading hub for AI-powered, farmer-first innovation — one that could eventually be replicated across India. Infographics Ambitious Rs 500-crore Maha Agri-AI Policy Intro Maharashtra Govt's ambitious ₹500-crore Maha Agri-AI Policy aims to transform farming using artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Here's a breakdown of the policy's phases and key components - Phase I (3 months): Setting up core institutions, including a steering committee and AI Innovation Centre - Phase II (within a year): Launching pilot projects in select districts to test AI tools like drones and chatbots - Phase III (2026): Expanding successful pilots and integrating with national digital systems - Phase IV (2028): Reviewing results and replicating models in other rural sectors The policy includes funding for on-ground projects, training, and infrastructure development, with a focus on supporting startups and farmers SALIENT FEATURES * Pilot projects to test AI tools like drones, chatbots, and geospatial systems in select districts. *Digital sandbox to offer anonymised farm data for startups to simulate real-world agricultural solutions. * Specialised AI labs to be set up in State Agriculture Universities for region-specific innovations. * ₹350 crore allocated for ground-level AI projects, including tech incubation and scaling up solutions. * Farmers and officers to get training; ₹50 crore earmarked for capacity-building and tech education. *Phase-wise rollout to integrate with national systems and expand into livestock, horticulture sectors. BREAK-UP OF FUNDS ALLOCATION (₹ crore) AI & Agritech Innovation Centre setup..................30 Digital Public Infrastructure for Agri-AI..................50 • ADeX, Sandbox, Cloud....................................10 • VISTAAR (Advisory Platform)...........................10 • Innovation Centres at SAUs..............................20 • Remote Sensing & Geospatial Engine...............5 • Traceability & Certification Platform....................5 Financial support for AI-based agri projects..........350 Capacity building (farmers & staff).........................50 Global AI Conference, Summit & Hackathons.......20 Total...............................................................₹500 crore
