BHAKKAR, Dec 12: Gram crop in the Bhakkar district, the largest gram producing district in the province, is under severe ‘Heliothis’ attack.

Growers said here on Wednesday they had suffered a heavy loss last year as well.

They said not only the late sown crop was affected by Heliothis but also early cultivated crop was affected by the pest. Scores of farmers recultivated crop due to Heliothis attack but again it came under the pest attack.

The Agriculture department admitted that the gram crop was under severe attack, advising farmers to water the crop to decrease its affects.

Growers have urged the Agriculture secretary and district Nazim Hameed Akbar to direct the agriculture authorities to send field staff in the area for guiding growers to control the pest attack.

They also asked the government to declare the Bhakkar district as a calamity-hit area like the last season and not to force farmers for the recovery of outstanding dues.—APP