Agriculture Extension Officers urged to take steps to protect crops from Armyworms

Kurnool: Special Commissioner for Agriculture Department, Muralidhar Reddy said though natural farming management’s procedures are available. Fall Army Worm Management (Kattera purugu) is affecting the jowar and maize crops.

He suggested the Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs), Scientists; pesticides shop dealers and MPEOs to initiate steps to tackle the virus from affecting the crops. The commissioner accompanied by District Collector S Sathyanarayana, convened an awareness and training programme on how to prevent Fall Army Worm affecting the crops at Sunaina Auditorium here on Sunday.

The commissioner speaking on the occasion said. ``We have noticed the Fall Army Worm (Kattera purugu) damaging the jowar crop during last kharif season. After identifying the virus, we have conducted a training programme and educated farmers on how to tackle the virus.

The farmers are asked to inspect the crops once in every three days to identify the worm. Not only the farmers who have availed bank loans the others also who have raised the crops have to insure their crops, said the commissioner.

District Collector, S Sathyanaryana said jowar and maize were raised in an extent of 55,000 hectares in the district. The agriculture officers have to bring awareness among the farmers about the worm. Later, the collector accompanied by the commissioner and others released the posters of Pradana Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana Crop Insurance and natural farming procedures.

Director of Agriculture University, SV Naidu, Assistant Director of Agriculture, Ravi Kumar, Joint Directors, Atma Project director, Murali Krishna, RARS, Subba Rao, Entomologist, Kamakshi, Agriculture Researchers and others participated in the programme.