Himachal agriculture department warns farmers over rising fall armyworm threat

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Dharamshala, July 6

The Agriculture Department has advised farmers to remain vigilant against the increasing incidence of fall armyworm in maize crops during the kharif season, warning that timely identification and appropriate management are essential to prevent crop losses.

The department said its teams are maintaining regular contact with farmers and providing technical guidance to help them manage the pest effectively.

Joint Director of Agriculture Dr Rahul Katoch said fall armyworm has emerged as a major challenge for maize cultivation over the past few years. He said the pest was first identified in the Shivagiri Hills region of Karnataka during 2018–19 before spreading to Himachal Pradesh.

Dr Katoch said a female fall armyworm can lay around 1,000 eggs at a time, allowing infestations to spread rapidly if not controlled.

He said insecticides recommended by the agricultural university are available in adequate quantities with the Agriculture Department. Farmers practising natural farming were advised to use natural formulations, including sour buttermilk, to manage the pest.

Dr Katoch further urged farmers to immediately inform the Agriculture Department or officials associated with natural farming if they notice signs of fall armyworm infestation in their fields, so that timely assistance and appropriate measures can be provided to control the outbreak.