All dists except two under Fall Armyworm

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 10: With the exception of Ukhrul and Tamenglong districts, all the districts of the State have come under the invasion of Fall Armyworm, the highly invasive pest which can cause massive destruction of crops within a very short time.
Swarms of Fall Armyworm are now attacking maize plantations extensively in different parts of the State, informed a source.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu today chaired a meeting of officials concerned at the Old Secretariat on the Fall Armyworm invasion and decided to take up control measures on war-footing.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary (Finance) Rakesh Ranjan, Commissioner (Agriculture) Sumant Singh, Agriculture Director, District Agriculture Officers, officials of ICAR and Plant Quarantine.
There are reports of Fall Armyworm attacking maize plantations at 150 hectares out of the total maize cultivated area of 6500 hectares in the State.
The meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary decided to provide bio-pesticide to maize farmers free of cost.
Moreover, 36 teams have been constituted to handle the task of providing bio-pesticides to maize farmers.
A training programme of Agriculture staff who would go to fields and educate farmers about Fall Armyworm would be held at ICAR, Manipur Centre tomorrow, conveyed the source.