September 22, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 09, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: Decline in temperature and timely use of pesticides have averted possible damage to the rice crop by controlling the Leaffolder disease in the paddy belt of northern Sindh, says the federal food ministry.

“Leaffolder disease that had attacked the rice crop in Sindh is now under control. Thanks to the 6-7 Centigrade decrease in temperature,” Inayatullah Khan, Rice Commissioner, Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal), told Dawn on phone from Larkana.

He said Minfal also appreciated the farmers for spraying pesticides on the crop in a timely fashion.

Leaffolder had attacked the rice crop in Sindh at a time when the mercury hovered around 40 Centigrade. The disease subsided after the temperature came down to 33-34 Centigrade, Mr Khan said.