Farmers into maize crop cultivation in Madurai and other nearby districts like Ramanathapuram, Theni, Sivaganga, among others are into a heavy loss this year due to the attack of an invasive pest called fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J.E.Smith). An estimated area of 3,500 hectares in Madurai district alone has been affected due to the pest.
While the invasive pest is a native of United States of America, it was first observed in India in 2018 in different States including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Officials say the pest is widely observed in districts like Madurai, Erode, Karur, Salem, Dindigul, Villupuram and Sivaganga districts.
K. Suresh, Associate Professor (Entomology), Agriculture College and Research Institute describes the nature of pest as polyphagous (feeding on or utilising many kinds of food) attacking several economically-important crops such as maize, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, wheat, cowpea, groundnut, cotton, etc.
As the pest remained dormant for over the last two years thanks to good and seasonal rainfall in Madurai district, it again became active this year due to unseasonal and scarce rainfall.
Out of the 13 blocks in the district, eight districts – Vadipatti, Alanganallur, Tirumangalam, Kallikudi, T. Kallupatti, Usilampatti, Chellampatti and Sedapatti has a recorded area of 22,400 ha of maize crop farming.
While, Sedapatti block has the maximum of 10,553 ha, T. Kallupatti block has 7,449 ha, Tirumangalam block has 3,873 ha, Kallikudi block has 250 ha, Chellampatti block has 122 ha, Usilampatti block has 72 ha, Alanganallur block has 64 ha and Vadipatti block has 17 ha of maize crop farming.
The affected farmers were largely dependent on rainfall for water sources, as the areas were rain-fed and not connected with any of the water resources like Vaigai.
Despite the district seeming to have received a good amount of rainfall in the year, farmers and officials pointed out the unseasonal rainfall which has become detrimental to the crops.
M. Ramanathan, a maize crop farmer in Retrapatti village of T. Kallupatti block, says that about 750 ha in Velambur panchayat alone has been affected due to the pest infestation.
“During 2018, fall army worm attacked maize crops at its fully-grown stage and completely whitewashed the fields. And in the years that ensued, the intensity of the pest was not that damaging,” he adds.
A part of the reason for the diminishing effect was the seasonal rain, he informs.
We learned that a good supply of water was reducing the intensity of the pest, but as the land was only rain-fed, other sources of water from wells, ponds or rivers were not an option, Mr. Ramanathan says.
Another farmer named S. Paulpandi of Thangalacheri village in Tirumangalam block, facing a similar problem of pest infestation in maize crop says about 10 acres of maize crops were destroyed by the pest.
“As I have spent about ₹20,000 for one acre, I am facing a loss of more than ₹2 lakh. Besides the loss, I must spend again to remove the standing crops for the next harvest,” he laments.
When experts suggest farmers to go for rotational farming practice, they say it was not feasible for them to grow suggested crops like cotton and millets as it would cost them more.
While maize could be removed using mechanical cultivators, cotton cultivation requires manpower.
“One worker who will be paid ₹225, can take about six kg of cotton in day’s work. At the same time, the same six kg of cotton is sold for only around ₹300,” he adds.
In addition to this, additional costs like transport, fertilizers, manure were calculated, it would only be a loss to the farmers, he says.
R. Vasudevan, another maize crop farmer based in Thangalacheri, reiterating a similar ordeal said, preventive measures like boundary planting and correct dosage of fertiliser usage went futile as the pest already remained in the soil.
“Even when we use the correct dosage of fertiliser, the chemicals seem not to be working on the pest. Though we have not tested the fertilisers in any labs, we view this as an important issue in the ineffectiveness of controlling the pest,” he states.
Also, he added, as records showed that the district has received a good amount of rainfall, the insurance companies deny accepting the loss of crops in any of the conditions like drought or flooding or pest attack.
“As both the government and insurance companies do not compensate for the loss incurred due to the pest attack, we have no options left other than to endure the loss,” he adds.
Joint Director Agriculture, Madurai, P. Subburaj, says they had studied the damage of the maize crops in the district. Maize crop cultivation in two blocks – T. Kallupatti and Sedapatti were found to be heavily affected by the pest infestation.
“Even when there is no provision to consider pest attack for either compensation or insurance amount, we have sent the requests to the State government as an exception, as lot of farmers are badly affected this year,” he notes.
The insurance amount would be ascertained by calculating the yield loss suffered in the last five years, Mr. Subburaj says.
“When the average yield loss surpasses their value, then the insurance amount would be provided,” he adds.
Regarding other issues like ineffective fertilisers, he said, their department officials were regularly involved in taking samples and testing it for quality. “In this case too, when it is tested and found to be of substandard, serious actions would be taken against the shop selling the fertilisers,” he notes.
Published – December 29, 2024 04:25 pm IST
