LARKANA, Oct 1: The standing paddy crop has come under a severe pest attack which will inflict heavy losses on growers in the Larkana district.

President Sindh Balochistan Rice Millers and Traders Association (SBRMTA) and vice-chairman Hari Abadgar Board Sindh Gada Hussain Mahisar on Wednesday said that rice varieties IRRI-6, IRRI-9, Russian Basmati, 385 Basmati were severely attacked by pests in the entire district.

He said not only growers but millers, small khatidars and landlords had reported about the attack on the paddy crop in the district. He accused the agriculture extension wing for its failure in monitoring the situation and added that prior to the attack both the agriculture extension wing and the Rice Research Institute (RRI) management were not aware of it.

The paddy sown from July 15 to late August had come under severe attack while the early transplantation escaped the tragedy, he said.

So far, Mr Mahisar said 50 per cent of the paddy crop in the Larkana district came under pest attack. He disclosed the paddy crop was cultivated on 5 lac acres of land in the district and assessed that 2.5 lac acres of the land would be affected by the attack.

Entomologist and in charge director of the RRI Dokri Muhammed Ramzan said that rice mealy bug, white back plant hopper, rice leaf folder and rice stem borer were the pests that attacked the crop.

Disputing claims of Mr Mahisar, he said that pests attacked between 5 to 8 per cent of the crop. He linked the attack with the unexpected decrease in temperature.

Former MPA from Shahdadkot Khudadion Khan Chandio confirmed the large scale pest attack on the Shahdadkot belt, while in charge director of the RRI said that there was no danger to the crop.

Reports from Jacobabad and Shikarpur said that the crop in that region was also under pest attack, Mr Mahisar said and added that it would affect both production and quality of rice.

Dr Afzal of the NARC Islamabad told on Wednesday said he was touring Sindh to undertake a survey of the diseases affecting different rice varieties which would be completed by Oct 7. He would then submit the findings to the head office.