Agriculture department issued advisory to save paddy crop from bakani disease

Paddy is a major Kharif crop, and farmers have cultivated it extensively this season. However, in some areas, farmers are facing the problem of Bakanae disease affecting their crops. The Agriculture Department has issued an advisory to protect the crops from this fungal disease.

During an inspection in Kasganj district, officials from the Agriculture Department found the presence of Bakanae disease in paddy crops in certain areas. Dr. Awadhesh Mishra, the District Agriculture Officer of Kasganj, stated that this disease mainly affects three varieties of paddy: Basmati 1692, Pusa Basmati 1509, and Pusa Basmati 1718. He advised farmers to remove the infected plants from the field and bury them in a pit to prevent the disease from spreading.

Symptoms and Identification of Bakanae Disease:

Dr. Awadhesh explains that in Basmati paddy, plants affected by Bakanae disease grow taller than the healthy ones. The top leaves of the infected plants become elongated and take on a sword-like pointed structure. Nodules form on the main stem, and the plant fails to produce grain. The roots of the affected plants swell, and white fibers appear above the nodules, leading to rot and eventually drying out of the plant.

Measures to Protect the Crop:

To prevent the spread of this disease, Dr. Awadhesh recommends specific measures. He advises that for every acre of land, farmers should spray a mixture of 3 kg Trichoderma, 500 grams of Thiophanate Methyl, and 20 grams of Streptocycline dissolved in 150 to 200 liters of water on the roots of the paddy plants. Trichoderma is available at a 75% subsidy at government agricultural protection units located in various development blocks. Farmers are also advised to reduce the use of urea in the affected fields and continuously monitor their crops.

Stem Borer Insect Also Damaging Paddy Crops: Addition to Bakanae disease, the paddy crop is also being affected by stem borer insects in some areas. This pest causes the appearance of white panicles in the crop, which do not produce any grain. Mahesh Chandra, the Plant Protection Officer in Lucknow, suggests that to protect the crop from stem borers, farmers should spray 1 ml of Profenofos 50% EC per liter of water. This treatment will eliminate the stem borer insects and prevent the formation of white panicles in the paddy crop.