New species of rice paddy pests inflict high costs on local farmers

October 15, 2024

HURFOM: Many rice paddy fields in Mudon Township, Mon State have been infected by a new species of pests and many acres of farmland have been destroyed.

Because the pests were discovered late in the rainy season, farmers have not had time to replant new paddy plants and the destruction has resulted in massive cost.

Some farmers have lost ten acres of rice crops and all their labor investments and fertilizer costs.

“We have suffered a lot. Every farm was impacted by the pests. I’ve planted 20 acres of paddy but the pest destroyed about ten acres. I’ve lost all my money invested in labor fees and fertilizer costs,” said a local farmer from Ka Log Taw village, Mudon Township.

The paddy plants died at their “milk stage”, meaning farmers were not able to replant. They have had to abandon their paddy fields for this season.

The plants have wilted and died. Farmers have never experienced this kind of pest and they said they did not know how to protect their plants against the new species.

“We have many experiences of paddy pests. It’s okay after spraying insecticide. But this time, we don’t even know what kind of pest has infected our fields. The plants die from the root. Spraying insecticide doesn’t work,” said a local farmer.

Thousands of acres of farmland in Mudo Township have been lost to the paddy pest and farmers are now facing huge challenges, local sources told HURFOM.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News