New Wheat Disease Affecting Crops in Chitwan District

Chitwan. A new disease has been observed in the wheat crops planted in the district. A problem resembling infestation by aphids (insects) on the roots and fungal infection on the leaves is currently visible in the wheat grown here. This problem has been seen in the wheat cultivated by farmers in Bharatpur Metropolitan City.

According to the Agriculture Development Office, the infection of this disease, which has been seen in the Terai region, has now appeared in Chitwan as well. According to Bindu Poudel, Information Officer for the office, farmers are coming in with problems of yellowing wheat leaves and root damage caused by insects.

She stated that it has not yet been confirmed what the disease is. She said, "Farmers have come to the office with the problem; we are in the process of studying the field, and only after the study can we confirm which disease it is." Saraswati Neupane, a scientist at the National Maize Research Program in Rampur, says that it is not possible to name the disease right now.

She stated that without subject-specific study, it is not possible to declare it as a specific disease. She informed that sample collection for testing is underway. Wheat cultivation is being done in an area of 4,711 hectares in the district.

According to the data from the Agriculture Development Office, 15,577 metric tons of wheat were produced in that area last year. Poudel informed that it is estimated that the area under cultivation will decrease this year as kidney bean cultivation was also found in some areas where wheat is usually planted.