Dual Pest Outbreak Decimates Manipur Rice Crops

Imphal: A double-threat of fall armyworms and brown planthoppers is tearing through paddy fields across Manipur. The pests hit just as crops reach maturity. Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, and Bishnupur districts reported heavy damage to fields nearing harvest. Farmers now face the total loss of their season, investment, and sweat.

Fields show shredded leaves and severed spikelets strewn across the soil. Laishram Sadananda, a farmer from Top Khongnangmakhong, lost five Sangams of paddy land in Wakha. He says the armyworms strike at night. "Fall armyworms had attacked his five Sangams of paddy land in Wakha, Imphal East, at night, damaging both leaves and spikelets."

Desperate growers are acting alone. Some bought commercial pesticides like Rocket and Commando to stop the spread. Others fear the health risks of dumping chemicals on grain ready for the table. They demand immediate guidance from the Agriculture Department and state authorities on safe pest control tactics.

Konthoujam Thoiba, co-convenor of the COCOMI Farmers Wing, says reports are flooding in from multiple regions. He expects the infestation to slash Manipur's total annual rice yield. Thoiba is pushing for agricultural scientists to run local awareness campaigns to teach farmers how to kill the bugs without poisoning the food supply.