Maksam Tayeng 

PASIGHAT, Sep 11: A new kind of pest known as the White Backed Plant Hopper (WBPH) that is raiding the crops and causing extensive damage has brought deep worries for the farmers of East Siang, Upper Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts.
As of now, major rice producing areas like Pasighat Circle, Mebo Sub-Division, Ruksin Sub-Division, Yagrung and Bilat Circle in East Siang district and Geku in Upper Siang and Kangkong Parbuk areas in Lower Dibang have been affected. As per agriculture experts like Talo Moyong who elaborated on the pest and the solutions in an article carried by this daily on September 11, WBPH is one of the most widespread pests out of all the 21 pests of paddy and timely control measures is vital in containment of damage. While detailing the measures to be taken to thwart WBPH, Moyong had expressed concern that response has been rather late due to which large areas of paddy fields have already been damaged causing huge financial losses to the region’s farmers.
One of the farmers from Borguli village, Tokbom Rome  narrating his ordeal said: “Around 3 acres of my paddy fields had been supporting my family’s ration needs all these years, but this year’s damage has worried me as there are little chances the state government will compensate the loss.” The same was echoed by Raja Tayeng, a farmer from Kangkong village under Roing Circle in Lower Dibang Valley.
When contacted, District Agriculture Officer of East Siang, Ajit Pao said the agriculture department has already taken enough measures to control WBPH. “We have already distributed around 200 spray machines, more than 500 litres of liquid medicines and are also creating awareness among farmers to tackle the infection,” Pao informed.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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