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Agriculture expert warns of threat to paddy harvest if remedial actions not taken
Natural disasters over the last three seasons including flooding due to cyclone Ditwah have led to serious soil-related problems that, if not controlled, could have significant impact on future paddy harvests, Dr. S. R. Sarathchandra, the Chief Agricultural Scientist (Entomologist) of the Batalagoda Rice Research Institute has warned.
Among the most serious soil-related issues are nutrient depletion and nutrients being washed away by floodwaters; nutrient imbalances and plant nutrient deficiencies; and iron toxicity and increased soil salinity. These conditions have led to the heavy spread of pests and diseases across every province of the island. The threats include pests like gall midge, leaf folder and grown plant hopper and diseases like blast, brown spot, bacterial leaf blight and sheath blight.
Dr. Sarathchandra recently entered into the field with a sprayer to educate farmers on how to save their crops and is now engaged in a programme to protect the country’s harvest through awareness programmes.
At the request of agricultural officers in the Matale and Anuradhapura districts, Dr. Sarathchandra carried out demonstrations on how to control an ongoing gall midge infestation, showing farmers how to use a machine to apply insecticide directly into the water of the paddy field (liyadda). Even a severe infestation could thus be controlled in a short period of about 20 minutes.
Farmers across the country are urged to inspect their fields immediately for signs of damage; to seek advice from agricultural advisors if they notice rice plants turning yellow; act quickly to protect crops; and to meet an agricultural advisor as soon as any disease is detected.
If current conditions are not brought under control, there is risk of a substantial impact on total paddy harvest, Dr. Sarathchandra said.
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