September 30, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 29, 2008

SKARDU, Sept 29: A disease called mealy bug has hit fruit trees in Skardu district and the farmers fear that they will face huge losses if the government did not take timely measures to check it.

Though this disease had affected willow and pine trees in different parts of Baltistan in the past but owing to lack of precautionary measures by the agriculture department, this year the disease has also gripped the fruit trees. An agriculture expert said the disease initially had been seen on the pine trees along the roadside in Baghicha Roundu valley some 15 years ago. Later, it gradually affected other parts of Baltistan.

It has been observed that the bug survives on the branches of trees wearing white foam-like cover and if one touches the cover its colour changes to pink. At most places, the bug lives like black dots without wearing a foam-like cover and it discharges water after sucking the juice of the tree. According to doctors, if the white foam mixes with human or animal food it creates stomach disease and destroys the digestive system.

According to reports, several animals have died this year in Tchorbat valley after eating fodder mixed with the white foam or pest from the trees.

It has been learnt that the disease was actually a mango pest which reached Pakistan through mango plants imported from Australia some 25 years back. Later, the disease also reached Baltistan.

When contacted, deputy director agriculture department Mohammad Raza said though they had launched a spray campaign in Skardu a few months back on 50 per cent charge sharing basis but the farmers did not cooperate with the department. “Later, we arranged a meeting with heads of different departments and apprised them of the lack of funds to coupe with the disease. “In response, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, the municipal committee and a few other departments extended financial assistance to us and the agriculture department sprayed the affected trees in different places.”

He said the agriculture department had no funds to coupe with the disease.