BARAMULLA: Paddy growers in several parts of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have reported extensive damage to standing crops following a suspected outbreak of rice blast disease, with recent hailstorms further worsening losses ahead of harvest.
Farmers from Doudbugh, Sheeri, Pattan, Rafiabad and adjoining areas said symptoms of a fungal disease have appeared in paddy fields at a critical stage of crop development, raising concerns over a sharp decline in yield and grain quality.
According to growers, the combined impact of the suspected disease and hailstorms has caused significant damage in several fields, with some estimating production losses of up to 65 per cent in the worst-affected areas.
“We have never seen such widespread damage to the paddy crop in this manner. The crop was looking healthy, but suddenly patches started developing in the fields and the plants began deteriorating,” said Abdul Gani Sheikh, a farmer from Doudbugh.
Mohammad Yousuf, a farmer from Sheeri, said the outbreak had created uncertainty among growers at a time when the crop was nearing maturity.
“We invested heavily in seed, fertilisers, labour and other inputs. Now, when the crop was nearing maturity, the disease and hailstorms have damaged it badly. We fear that a major portion of our produce may be lost,” he said.
Farmers have urged the Agriculture Department to conduct a scientific assessment of the affected fields, identify the disease and provide technical guidance and relief measures.
Agriculture experts said rice blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is among the most destructive diseases affecting rice worldwide. They noted that losses can vary depending on the crop variety, stage of infection and prevailing weather conditions, with severe outbreaks capable of reducing yields by more than 50 per cent.
Chief Agriculture Officer Baramulla Abdul Latief Khan said departmental teams had been deputed to the affected areas to assess the situation.
“Our teams have been sent to the affected areas to assess the damage. They will examine the crops and collect the necessary information so that the exact disease affecting the paddy crop can be identified and a proper report prepared,” Khan told Kashmir Images.
Officials said field assessments are underway to determine whether the symptoms are caused by rice blast or another disease and to evaluate the extent of damage.
Farmers said the suspected disease outbreak has compounded losses caused by recent hailstorms that damaged standing crops across parts of the district.
“First the hailstorm damaged our standing crop and now the disease has appeared. We are helpless and need immediate intervention from the authorities as we lost around 50 per cent of the paddy crop,” said Bashir Ahmad, another farmer from the affected area.
With paddy being a key source of livelihood for thousands of farming families in Kashmir, growers have appealed to the administration to expedite the assessment process and consider compensation or relief measures based on the verified extent of losses.
