SHILLONG: Meghalaya Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh has said that there is no threat from army worm to the cultivation of rice and maize in Meghalaya.
The statement came from Lyngdoh following reports that the threat of army worm looms large over rice and maize crops in some of the North Eastern states especially Manipur.
Lyngdoh said that the attack of such worms have been completely stopped after the State Government was quick to take necessary measures to tackle the challenge.
He said that the government used bio pesticides to ensure that crops are not damaged by such worms.
“As of now there, is no more threat from the army worm,” he said.
Earlier, a Joint Action Team (JAT), comprising representatives from Central Integrated Pest Management Centre (CIPC), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Manipur, Central Agricultural University Manipur and Agriculture department have been formed to tackle the menace of “fall armyworm” pest in that state.
With the season of rice farming starting soon, entomologists have expressed concerns that the pest could shift its target to rice after devastating its host plant maize.
The fall armyworm pest, which is native to America, was detected in Lamphel and Langol Research farm of council, Manipur Centre.
In India, the pest was detected for the first time in Karnataka in 2018 and rapidly spread to other parts of the country. Chattisgarh was the last state to report the pest in January this year.
