Farmers growing maize crops in Madurai and other nearby districts like Ramanathapuram, Theni, Sivaganga, among others, have suffered heavy losses this year due to the attack of an invasive insect called the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (JESUS). An estimated 3,500 hectares in Madurai district alone have been affected by this pest.
While the invasive insect is native to the United States of America, it was first seen in India in 2018 in different states including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Officials say the plant is widely seen in districts like Madurai, Erode, Karur, Salem, Dindigul, Villupuram and Sivaganga districts.
K. Suresh, Associate Professor (Entomology), Agriculture College and Research Institute describes the type of pest as polyphagous (eating or using many types of food) attacking several economically important crops such as maize, millet, sugarcane, rice, wheat, cowpea, groundnut, cotton, etc.
As the pest remained dormant for the last two years due to good and seasonal rains in Madurai district, it has become active again this year due to irregular rainfall and famine.
Out of 13 blocks in the district, eight districts – Vadipatti, Alanganallur, Tirumangalam, Kallikudi, T. Kallupatti, Usilampatti, Chellampatti and Sedapatti have a recorded area of 22,400 hectares under maize cultivation.
While, Sedapatti block has an area of 10,553 hectares, T block. Kallupatti has 7,449 acres, Tirumangalam block has 3,873 acres, Kallikudi block has 250 acres, Chellampatti block has 122 acres, Usilampatti block has 72 acres, Alanganallur block has 64 acres. The block has 17 hectares for growing maize crops.
The affected farmers were mostly dependent on rain for water sources, as the areas were rainfed and not connected to any water sources like Vaigai.
Despite the fact that this region seems to receive a lot of rain in a year, farmers and officials have pointed out that the seasonal rain has caused harm to crops.
M. Ramanathan, a maize farmer in Retrapatti village in T. Kallupatti block, says around 750 acres in Velambur panchayat alone have been affected due to pest infestation.
“In the year 2018, the fall army worm attacked the corn crops when they were fully grown and hid in the fields. And in the following years, the intensity of the insects was not so damaging,” he adds.
Part of the reason for the reduced effect was seasonal rain, he informed.
We learned that good water availability reduces the power of insects, but since the world had only rain, other sources of water from wells, lakes or rivers were not an option, said Mr. Ramanathan.
Another farmer named S. Paulpandi from Thangalacheri village in Tirumangalam block, who is facing the same problem of pest attack on maize plants says that 10 hectares of maize have been destroyed by this pest.
“Since I spent about R20,000 for one hectare, I am facing a loss of more than R2 lakh. Besides the loss, I have to use it to remove the dead plants to get the next harvest,” he lamented.
If the experts suggest that the farmers will cultivate in rotation, they say that it would not be possible for them to cultivate the proposed crops such as cotton and millet because they are too expensive.
Although corn can be harvested using mechanical cultivators, cotton cultivation requires labor.
“One worker who will be paid R225, can take about six kilos of cotton in a day’s work. At the same time, the same six kilos of cotton are sold for about R300 only,” he adds.
In addition to this, additional costs such as transportation, fertilizer, manure are calculated, which can only be a loss for farmers, he says.
UR. Vasudevan, another Thangalacheri-based maize farmer, repeating the same experiment said, preventive measures such as border planting and proper rate of fertilizer use were useless as the pest was left in the soil.
“Even if we use the right amount of fertilizer, the chemicals don’t seem to work on the insects. “Although we have not tested the fertilizers in any labs, we consider this to be an important issue in the ineffectiveness of pest control,” he said.
And, he added, since the records show that the region has received a good amount of rain, insurance companies refuse to accept the loss of crops in any conditions such as drought or floods or insect attacks.
“Since both the government and insurance companies do not compensate for losses incurred due to insect attacks, we have no choice but to bear the loss,” he adds.
Joint Director of Agriculture, Madurai, P. Subburaj, says they have learned about the damage to maize crops in the district. Cultivation of maize plants in two stages – T. Kallupatti and Sedapatti were found to be most affected by pest infestation.
“Even if there is no provision to look for pest attacks to get compensation or insurance amount, we have sent requests to the State government as an exception, as many farmers have been badly affected this year,” he notes.
The insurance amount will be determined by calculating the crop loss in the last five years, said Mr. Subburaj.
“When the average yield loss exceeds their value, then the insurance amount will be given,” he adds.
Regarding other things such as non-active fertilizers, he said that the officials of their department are always involved in taking samples and checking if they are of good quality. “Even in this matter, if it is examined and found to be not up to standard, strict measures will be taken against the store that sells fertilizer,” he commented.
Published – December 29, 2024 04:25 pm IST
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