Wheat crop was attacked and destroyed by pink caterpillar.
Pink caterpillar is attacking and destroying the wheat crop in Barnala. Since there is no solution for this, farmers are forced to run tractors on their crops. In village Gumti of the district today, many farmers drove tractors on crops destroyed by bollworms.
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Farmer Balwinder Singh told that he had sown wheat in 3 acres without burning the stubble. The entire crop became a victim of pink caterpillar. He also did several sprays, but to no avail. Therefore, plowing the crop became the last resort. Now he will sow it afresh.
Similarly, two acres of wheat crop of farmer Karamjit Singh, four acres of Jagga Singh, five acres of Bala Singh and four acres of wheat crop of farmer Balwinder Singh Kaka have also been damaged by caterpillar.
A farmer driving a tractor on wheat crop in village Gumti.
Even the spray did not kill the caterpillar.
Farmers reported that crop growth had stopped and had started drying up. Even the spray recommended by the department could not kill the caterpillar. Due to which the crop will be sown afresh. He said that now DAP fertilizer is not available for planting wheat again.
The affected farmers said that their problems have increased due to the caterpillar and the cost has also increased. Now the expenditure on sowing and spray has increased significantly. But in this difficult time, no government representative even took care of him.
Agriculture Technical Officer Amarendra Singh said that this disease is more visible in the fields with early sowing of wheat. The department is making efforts to save the crops affected by pink bollworm disease.