The Punjab government has issued advisory to all joint directors and chief agriculture officers warning them against yellow rust attack after the disease was detected in villages of the Doaba region, especially in Nawanshahr and Ropar districts.
The advisory read that officials should not go on leave. Special teams of agricultural officials and scientists should also be constituted so that adequate protection could be taken against the disease.
Besides, joint directors of the agriculture department have also been directed to conduct extensive touring of fields to maintain constant inspection of the situation in their areas. Regular reports have also been sought from teams after they complete their tours in wheat fields daily. On January 9, the agriculture officials of Nawanshahr district detected yellow rust disease in the fields of wheat crop in Kharod village of Saroya block.
CROP HIT IN BALACHAUR
Yellow rust was found on a wheat crop in Hasanpur village of Balachaur sub-division on Monday.
The agricultural officials visited the fields after a farmer informed them and detected yellow stripes on leaves of wheat crop.
An official at the agriculture department said yellow rust was a dreaded disease of wheat which caused tremendous losses in yield if not checked in time.