Army worms destroy millet crops in Kurnool

Kurnool: A new variety of ‘army worms’ are damaging hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops cultivated in the district.

The worms not seen for years have suddenly appeared in the fox tail millet and maize crop fields. The worms in large numbers attack the cro-ps at night and eat up the entire crop. During the day the worms seek shelter under the soil.

The farmers are in a dilemma over how to save the crops and are suffering huge losses. Some farmers say that these worms were seen earlier in paddy fields. This year there was less paddy cultivation due to scanty rainfall in the district.

The army worms unable to find paddy fields nestled in the fox tail millet and maize crops. On the advice of agriculture department officials’ farmers have cultivated fox tail millets, maize, bazra, jowar and other food grains.

The fox tail millet and maize crops are extensively cultivated in Dhone, Peauply, Panyam, Jupadu Bunglow, Nandikotkur, Atmakur, Orvakal and Nandyala mandals.

Farmer Rama Subbudu of Gadivemula mandal said that he had taken five acres of land on lease and cultivated maize crop by investing ' 20,000 per acre. He is now facing great loss.  

Another farmer Narayana Reddy of Paramanchala village under Jupadu Bungalow cultivated maize and fox tail millets in 10 acres. The worms destroyed his entire land and he had invested around Rs 1.50 lakh.

There is need to weed out the army worms by the agriculture department to safe guard the remaining crops.