As Haryana battles paddy dwarfing virus; minister says damage under control

The minister said uprooting and destroying the infected plants were effective in controlling the contamination.

Chandigarh | August 27, 2025 07:37 AM IST

The estimated crop loss in the affected fields has remained relatively low, about 5 to 10 per cent., said the Haryana minister

The estimated crop loss in the affected fields has remained relatively low, about 5 to 10 per cent., said Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana. (File Photo)

Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana told the Assembly Tuesday that out of approximately 40 lakh acres, the dwarf virus has affected around 92,000 acres of sown paddy crop in the state.

The minister said uprooting and destroying the infected plants were effective in controlling the contamination. “The estimated crop loss in the affected fields has remained relatively low, about 5 to 10 per cent.”

According to farmers, the ‘southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus’ (SRBSDV) is responsible for dwarfing.

During a Calling Attention Motion in the Assembly, Congress MLA Aditya Surjewala raised concerns over the virus’ impact on paddy crops in Karnal, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar and Kaithal . He also demanded compensation for the affected farmers.

INLD MLA Arjun Chautala also voiced similar concerns.

In response, the agriculture minister said the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (Hisar) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research took immediate action upon outbreak detection.

The minister also said teams from the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and the Haryana Agriculture Department conducted a survey on August 6 and 7.

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