Pest attack on sugarcane worries Ambala farmers

Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service
Ambala, August 4
The top borer disease in sugarcane has left the farmers in Naraingarh and Shahzadpur areas of Ambala worried. As per the data procured from the Agriculture Department, sugarcane crop in nearly 250 acre has been affected by the disease. The most-affected variety is CO 0238, which has been cultivated in a large area.
As per the farmers, the top borer insect affects the growth of the sugarcane and the sprays done by the farmers to control the disease has increased the cost of production. Rajiv Kumar, a sugarcane farmer from Hasanpur village, said, “Top borer is harmful for sugarcane as it damages the sugarcane and its growth. My nearly four-acre sugarcane crop has been affected by top borer insect. Since the crop has attained a good height, it was tough to use spray on the sugarcane. The disease has affected sugarcane crop in several villages of Naraingarh and Shahzadpur.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Director Agriculture Dr Jasvinder Singh Saini said, “Top borer has affected sugarcane crop on nearly 250 acres in Naraingarh and Shahzadpur areas. The farmers can use drones to spray medicine on the affected crops if it has attained height. However, there is no need to panic for the farmers as the disease is under control.”