To combat Fall Armyworm...44 more surveillance team formed

    16-May-2019


By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 15 : To combat the menace of Fall Armyworm in the State, 44 additional surveillance teams have been formed today, thus bringing the total number of surveillance teams to 80.
Today, Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu, for the second time, reviewed the steps taken up by the Agriculture Department to combat the infestation of maize crops in the State by Fall Armyworm and a wide scale sanitisation of the crops is being planned for completion within a week's time.
As per an official source, the meeting held at Old Secretariat conference hall today was chaired by the Chief Secretary  and was attended by Agriculture Commissioner, ICAR, CAU and various district agriculture officers as well.
On the other hand, the source also informed that free chemicals were supplied to the farmers for combating the infestation of their crops and so far the treatment has been successful.
The success of the treatment will be reviewed scientifically by the Agriculture Department, ICAR and CAU experts by going to the fields.
The source further said that over and above the initial 36 surveillance teams formed to combat the menace, formation of additional 44 teams was proposed during the meeting today.
Survey of the affected fields will also be completed within 5 days, the source added.
Further informing that the meeting also resolved to complete the treatment of the affected fields within a week's time, the source mentioned that a help line number will also be available in the Agriculture Department from tomorrow.
On the other hand, another separate meeting chaired by Agri Commissioner Sumant Singh was conducted for CAU and Department officials for discussing ways and methods to face the Fall Armyworm issue.