A Central team
will soon visit Maharashtra for an assessment of the white wooly
aphid pest attack on the sugarcane crop in the state. The pest
infestation, first of its kind in Maharashtra was discussed
at the meeting of the Crop Weather Watch Group of the Ministry
of Agriculture here today. The Group chaired by Shri Ashoka
Kumar Rastogi, Special Secretary in the Ministry discussed the
aphid attack and its ramifications.
As per the scientific
opinion presented to the Group, the aphid pest will remain in
the sugarcane fields for the next three to four years. Since
the sugarcane crop is available in the field almost round the
year, the continuous availability of host material enhances
in the proliferation of the pest. Scientists also said in the
Crop Weather Watch Group meeting that excessive irrigation of
sugarcane fields results in increased humidity in the crop environment
which is conducive to the growth of the pest. Shri Rastogi said
that the central team including experts and scientists shall
visit Maharashtra for a detailed assessment of the situation
so that an action plan could be drawn up for complete eradication
of the aphid pest from sugarcane fields. The action plan will
look at appropriate plant protection measures over the next
four to five years besides measures to promote multiplication
of natural predator that eats up the aphid pest.
The information
provided by the Maharashtra government revealed that aphid attack
recorded for the first time in Maharashtra was first noticed
in Sangli district during this crop season last year and later
spread to Kolhapur, Satara, Pune, Ahmednagar and Solapur districts.
Aphid infestation is reported over 1 lakh hectares in Maharashtra.
Reports of its spread to the neighbouring Karnataka were also
received.
The Crop Weather
Watch Group which also reviewed the water level in reservoirs
all over the country felt that desilting of reservoirs should
be taken up given the low levels of water storage. Shri Rastogi
said that the State governments and the Central Water Commission
will be addressed to in this regard. The total live storage
in 70 important reservoirs in different parts of the country
monitored by the Central Water Commission was only 29 per cent
of the storage capacity during the last week. With only three
reservoirs having more than 80 per cent water storage the over
all reservoir position continued to be critical.
