SCENARIO OF INSECT-PESTS AND DISEASES OF PADDY IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

The paddy crop in Himachal Pradesh is grown under rainfed and irrigated agro-ecosystems and is ravaged by a number of insect-pests and diseases. Kangra and Mandi are the major rice growing districts. The incidence of insect-pests and diseases of paddy was recorded during 1999 to 2009 in major rice growing districts of H.P. under production oriented survey (POS) scheme of All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project which revealed very useful information pertaining to insect-pests and diseases. During these studies over the last ten years, it was observed that the insects and diseases (whorl maggot, chaffer beetle, bacterial leaf blight), which were not prevalent in rice growing areas of H.P. are the major pests now. Hoppers, which were not causing any damage to rice crop in the state, became very severe in 2007 in Rait block of district Kangra leading to hopper burn symptoms in variety TN-1 being grown by the farmers incurring heavy losses. In major rice producing districts like Kangra and Mandi, leaf and neck blast were observed to be the most predominant diseases attributing to crop losses during the decade whereas other rice diseases appeared in low to moderate proportions. Whorl maggot registered its presence during 2001- 2002 in Mandi and Kangra districts and has attained the status of a pest of rice in Kangra district appearing in low to moderate intensity especially on late transplanted rice crop.