Chandigarh, Sept 22: As early paddy procurement begins across Punjab, farmers are grappling with crop challenges ranging from fungal infections to pest infestations. Agriculture officials have identified false smut—a fungal disease that replaces rice grain with yellow spore balls—as the most concerning issue this season.
Narinderpal Singh, agriculture development officer, said the disease has seen a sharp rise due to persistent rains and favourable weather. “While false smut appears annually, this season it is more widespread. Farmers have been advised to apply chemical sprays recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to contain the disease,” he said.
Besides false smut, discoloration of grains has also been reported. Though experts said it does not affect crop health, it dulls the seeds’ shine and could lower their market value. Farmers have been advised to use fungicides to address the problem.
The brown planthopper, another recurring threat, has also been detected. However, experts maintained the pest is largely under control. “No widespread hopper burn has been reported, and precautionary checks are ongoing,” said Rubaljot Kooner, principal entomologist at PAU.
Mandeep Singh Hunjan, principal plant bacteriologist at PAU, explained that false smut infections typically occur during the pollination stage. “The issue came to light this year because persistent rains during the flowering period disrupted the spraying schedule. Overuse of nitrogen fertiliser is also a contributing factor,” he said. Hunjan clarified that the disease is not communicable and primarily affects quality rather than yield. “Once the infection affects the plant, it cannot be converted back into the grain no matter how much spray is used,” he added.
Farmers, meanwhile, expressed frustration over delayed intervention. Jagdev Singh, who cultivates six acres of paddy, said nearly 20 percent of his crop has already been damaged. “Officials should have inspected fields earlier. Many farmers didn’t know about the issue, and now the damage is done. With harvesting still days away, more crop could be impacted,” he said.
While agriculture experts acknowledged the severity of false smut, they noted the scale of damage across the state remains unclear. For now, farmers and officials alike are waiting to see how the disease and pests affect procurement in the coming weeks.
