Pests Destroy Over 3 Million Soybean Hectares

Matt Hopkins Posted by Matt Hopkins|2 September 2008

A massive attack by soldier worms has devastated the standing soybean crop on over 3 million hectares (Ha) in Vidarbha, India.

After touring the stricken area, Maharashtra Agriculture Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh confirmed the huge losses and massive destruction, said to have been beyond the control of any pest management.The soldier worms have now shifted to the cotton crop, warned Deshmukh.

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) President Kishor Tiwari said that 2.8 million Ha of cotton are in danger in Vidarbha. He has urged the Indian government to have experts to look into the crisis, as well as arrange for immediate relief aid for farmers who lost soybean crop due to the pest attack.