Even as the farmers of Budula, Nagaon and Dudukamunda villages in Agalpur block in Balangir district are happy with this year’s rainfall yet they are worried for a good harvest as their paddy crops are now affected by deadly swarming caterpillars.
Agricultural officials said the swarming caterpillars grow rapidly in the night in the forest area, and with the rainfall the pests flow down from the hilltops to paddy fields and damage the plants.
The insecticide Chlorpyrifos, which is used to tackle the menace, is in short supply; and unless the menace is tackled on war footing measures, it would spread further, the officials added.
Sources said the caterpillar attack, which was first noticed on July 7, is gradually increasing. According to preliminary reports, around 10 acre of paddy crop has been affected till now. Balangir Deputy Director of Agriculture Sridhar Das said, “We are arranging insecticide soon to tackle the menace.”