Pest infestation devastates vegetable crops in Pulwama

Pulwama: Farmers in several villages of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district are facing severe losses as a result of a devastating pest infestation that has hit their vegetable crops.
Reports from residents in Wahibugh, Looswani, Zadoora, Rahmoo, Tujan, Mirgund, and Thokerpora indicate significant damage due to a combination of drought, diseases, and pest infestations.
Waheeda Akhter, a resident of Wahibugh village, described the extensive damage to her kale crops.
“The insects devoured the kale leaves, leaving them severely perforated,” she said.
She said that despite multiple insecticide sprays, the pests rendered the crop unfit for consumption, forcing farmers to uproot the denuded stems.
Akhter also noted that drought-like conditions have affected potato, bean, and maize crops this season.
In Looswani, another farmer reported severe pest attacks on his cabbage crops.
“The pest infestation is causing economic loss to me,” he lamented, despite using pesticides.
Similar stories echo across the district, with farmers struggling to protect their crops from the relentless pests.
The Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department Pulwama has documented the damage caused by pests, disease, and drought.
Officials report that in Rahmoo, maize and millet crops grown on rain-fed fields have suffered from poor germination and seedling death due to low soil moisture.
“Ten kanals of maize and 100 kanals of millet fields have been significantly affected by drought, while insect pests have infested 15 kanals of irrigated vegetable fields, causing substantial crop loss.”
Potato fields in Tujan and Rahmoo have been plagued by leaf blight and plant wilt, likely exacerbated by poor soil moisture. The disease has affected these crops in patches, making it difficult for farmers to salvage the affected plants.
According to the report, in Mirgund and Thokerpora, maize and millet crops continue to struggle with harsh conditions, with 20 and 105 kanals of rain-fed land, respectively, showing signs of severe drought damage.
Poor germination and seedling wilt have significantly reduced crop stands. Insect pests, particularly aphids and caterpillars, have compounded the problem by infesting vegetable crops across multiple villages.
Similarly, in Tujan and Zadoora, 20 kanals each of irrigated vegetable fields have been damaged by these pests. Wahibugh has also reported pest issues, with 5 kanals of cabbage fields and 10 kanals of other crops under threat.
Agriculture experts attribute the increased incidence of pest infestation to the hot and dry climate.
Showket Ahmad, Agriculture Extension Officer for the area, mentioned that they have been visiting the affected villages to assess the ground situation and have conducted awareness campaigns for local farmers.
“The cabbage has been infested by the diamond black moth and kale by the caterpillar of the cabbage butterfly,” he explained, adding that farmers use specific pesticides to combat these pests.
Ahmad suggested using organic agents like garlic paste and red chillies to control pests, as these can be applied more frequently than pesticide sprays, which leave harmful residues on vegetables.
He also advised farmers to adapt to the changing climate by preponing the transplantation of different vegetable crops