Now Reading: Wild rice weed hits 150 acres, TN farmers seek aid
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Wild rice weed hits 150 acres, TN farmers seek aid
Paddy farmers in Chenbagaramanputhoor, Kanyakumari district, are battling a wild rice weed that has spread across nearly 150 acres of paddy fields. The weed, first noticed four years ago, has expanded rapidly…
The Story in Brief
Paddy farmers in Chenbagaramanputhoor, Kanyakumari district, are battling a wild rice weed that has spread across nearly 150 acres of paddy fields. The weed, first noticed four years ago, has expanded rapidly in recent seasons, raising cultivation costs and threatening yields. Farmers have urged the Tamil Nadu government and the agriculture department to intervene with control measures and technical assistance.
The weed closely resembles cultivated paddy in early growth stages, making removal difficult and labour-intensive. Farmers must manually identify and pull out the plants, pushing up expenses. The Chenbagaramanputhoor Farmers Association fears the infestation will spread further without action, affecting the entire 500-acre paddy area.
The Indian Opinion
The wild rice weed is a natural nuisance, but the real test is whether the state agriculture department will act before the next growing season. Farmers have been alerting officials for four years; delays now shift the blame from nature to governance. Instead of waiting for a crisis, the department must inspect fields, trace the infestation's source, and issue clear control guidelines. A field inspection within the next month will show if this plea gets more than a file note.
Source: telanganatoday.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
