Farmers in Bhilwara district are in distress due to an outbreak of yellow mosaic, commonly known as yellow disease, affecting their pulse crops. Agriculture department’s Joint Director Vinod Kumar Jain confirmed that this virus-borne disease, caused by infections in the plants, leads to substantial crop destruction.

In a year where farmers had high hopes for their Kharif crops, including black gram (urad) and green gram (moong), the sudden onset of intense sunlight has exacerbated the spread of this disease, particularly in black gram fields. Many farmers are now witnessing their crops turn yellow, with some already facing complete destruction. The situation has become so dire that several are contemplating ploughing their fields anew.

The distress among farmers is palpable, prompting agriculture department’s Bhilwara unit to compile a ground report on the extent of crop damage and submit the findings to state govt. Currently, around 70,000 hectares of land in the district have been allocated for pulse crop cultivation, with black gram being the predominant seed sown, followed closely by green gram.

Joint Director Jain said the yellowing of the plants is primarily a result of the yellow virus and nitrogen deficiency, with the virus being the main culprit in most cases.

To mitigate the impact, he urged farmers to spray insecticide to control sap-sucking insects. Farmers are also being advised to promptly uproot and dispose of yellowing plants to prevent further spread of the disease.

In response to this agricultural crisis, a specialised team has been formed, comprising scientists from an agriculture university and officials from agriculture department, to conduct field inspections and assess the situation thoroughly. The findings from these investigations will be forwarded to the state govt to seek appropriate interventions.

Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com