Bug attack on cashew leaves Ganjam farmers worried

Berhampur: Cashew growers of Ganjam, one of the major cashew-producing districts in the state, are worried a lot as insects are attacking the crop and plants are also ageing.
The tea-mosquito bug, usually found in tea plantations, is infecting the soft tissues at the tip of the branches of cashew plants making the foliage appear lifeless. It will affect production as flowers of the tree will fall due to insect attack.
Cashew is planted over 4,000 hectares in 22 blocks of Ganjam district.
Out of it, we have received complaints of insect attack on 500 hectares in Polasara, Beguniapada and Kabisurya Nagar blocks said Sarat Chandra Behera, deputy director of horticulture.
He said water scarcity was one of the causes for insect attack on plants.
“We have already advised plant growers about the technical know-how to chack further infection of the plants and recommended pesticides,” he added. He said around 20% cashew production might be affected this year due to infection of the plants.
The cashew growers have sought compensation from the government. “We have grown cashew on three acres. Almost all trees have withered away due to the scorching heat,” said Ramesh Sabar of Beguniapada. The cashew growers of Beguniapada have submitted a memorandum to collector (Ganjam) Vijay Amruta Kulange for government help to compensate for the loss.
Cashew production in the district was severely hit when plants were destoyed in repeated cyclones. As the production was affected, several cashew processing units have downed their shutters.