Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 24: Sanjeev Rai Gupta, Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) of Kathua, visited several villages under the jurisdiction of Zone Kathua and Rajbagh to assess the status of the paddy crop. During his visit, he met with farmers from villages including Nagri, Dadoli, Tarafwala, Pandori, Hariachack, and Chack Desa Choudhrian. The CAO educated the farmers about the potential threat posed by the *Plant Hopper, a rice pest that can cause **Hopper Burn, which leads to the yellowing, browning, and drying of plants. This pest can spread rapidly, causing significant damage to the crop. Infested fields often display circular patches of drying and lodging of mature plants, which gives the appearance of scorched vegetation known as Hopper Burn. Farmers were advised to adopt preventive measures, such as draining the paddy fields for 3-4 days during the early stages of infestation. Sanjeev Rai Gupta urged farmers to remain vigilant and promptly report any symptoms to their panchayat-level officer* or the nearest *Zonal Agriculture Office for immediate assistance. The CAO was accompanied by Parshotam Gupta(SDAO Kathua), Parmodh Verma* (AEO Zone Kathua), Sanjeev Singh Chib* (AEO Rajbagh), and other concerned *JAEOs* and *AEAs* during the visit.
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