August 31: The outbreak of stem borer (gawaro) disease has affected the paddy planted by farmers in several districts. With the outbreak of the disease, the farmers have complained that the paddy plants have started withering. Although the disease is increasing day by day, no initiative has been taken by the concerned bodies for its proper management and control. 

At present, the disease has spread to more than a dozen districts including Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sunsari, Banke and Bardiya. Bhubaneshwor Yadav, a Sunsari-based farmer, informed that the farmers are worried due to the outbreak of the disease. 

He complained that although the disease is spreading, the farmers could not get required medicine. After the farmers took their problems to Agriculture Knowledge Center, the center sent them back saying they could not help them due to the lack of budget. 

Similar problem is also increasing in other districts. The disease has damaged 10 percent of paddy grown in a total of 35,000 hectares of land in Parsa district. Similarly, it has been reported that the disease has affected the farmers of Bardiya district as well. 

Agni Aryal, coordinator of Rajapur Paddy Super Zone in Bardiya, said that more than 200 bigahas of paddy fields may have been affected by the disease. He said that the concerned stakeholders should take initiative for its prevention and control. 

Despite the recent outbreak of the disease, the government, including the National Farmers Commission, does not seem to have shown much interest in controlling the disease. The Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has also stated that no action has been taken for the prevention as no information has been received in this regard.

Information Officer of the department Dr Mahadev Prasad Poudel said that the department has not received any information so far and necessary initiatives will be taken for prevention after receiving the information.  

Chairman of the Commission Prem Dangal also said that the commission has not received any information in this regard and the commission is ready to provide necessary assistance to the farmers in case of any disturbance.