The farmers are worried as the crops are being destroyed by wild animals and insects. The winter crop has been destroyed by the insects. Initially, the growing potato plant was destroyed by insects. Farmers are worried that even if some of the surviving plants bear fruit, they will be destroyed by insects.
Insect larvae infesting potatoes in different places of Hatgaun in Ward No. 3 have damaged the leaves and left only the husk of the fruit. Currently, such problem is seen in potato in the entire district. Local farmer Sher Bahadur Thapa said that 40 to 50 quintals of potato is produced from five quintals of seed. According to Khemraj Paneru, agriculture officer at the Agriculture Knowledge Center, the potato crop may have been destroyed due to the favorable environment for insects.
He informed that the incidence of Tuta, Khumle, Scale, Fed Katuwa and Red Ant has increased due to the increase in the ability of insects to tolerate pesticides and adapting to the environment. Paneru urged the farmers to get information as various measures can be taken to control insects and other diseases by testing the soil.
Gyanudevi Upreti, another farmer, said that although some farmers started sowing potatoes in search of metasit, some ash and some other medicines available in the shops as the insects destroyed all the fruits while the potatoes were growing. Complaining that the potato plant has been destroyed by all the insects, the farmer Upreti said that the main source of income of the farmers is at risk. Farmers who cultivate potatoes commercially have to bear the risk every year. He said that sometimes drought, sometimes hailstorm and sometimes insects destroy the potato crop.
READ ALSO:
