Agricultural scientists in Punjab have warned farmers about the recurring spread of paddy dwarfing disease ahead of the 2026 paddy transplantation season.
About Paddy Dwarfing Disease
- Paddy dwarfing disease is a viral disease in rice linked to the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV), first reported in Punjab in 2022.
- Viral Cause: The disease is caused by the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus, which attacks paddy plants and severely reduces growth and grain formation.
- Insect Vector: The virus spreads through the white-backed plant hopper, an insect vector that transmits infection from diseased to healthy plants.
- Persistent Transmission: Once the insect acquires the virus, it remains infectious throughout its life cycle, increasing the chances of widespread transmission.
- Alternate Hosts: The insect survives on weeds and grassy plants near fields and water channels, enabling the disease to reappear every season.
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Impact on Paddy Farming
- Severe Yield Loss: Normally, paddy yields in Punjab range between 30–32 quintals per acre, but severely infected fields produced only 1–2 quintals in some cases.
- Stunted Crop Growth: Infected plants become short and weak, with narrow leaves and shallow roots; plant height may reduce to one-third of healthy plants.
- Grain Failure: Severely infected crops fail to produce grains or show poor grain filling, resulting in major economic losses for farmers.
- Spread Across Punjab: The disease affected thousands of hectares in districts such as Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupnagar, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.
- Livelihood Impact: Farmers face heavy financial losses because symptoms appear nearly one month after transplantation, leaving little time for replanting.
Paddy Farming
- Paddy farming refers to the cultivation of rice, a staple food crop mainly grown in tropical and subtropical regions.
- India is the world’s highest producer of rice, with major producing states including Uttar Pradesh (Highest), Telangana, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
- Favourable Conditions
- Climate: Warm and humid climate is ideal for paddy cultivation.
- Temperature: Requires about 20°C–35°C during the growing season.
- Rainfall: Around 100–200 cm of annual rainfall or assured irrigation is necessary.
- Soil Type: Fertile alluvial or clayey soil with high water-retention capacity is most suitable.
- Water Requirement: Standing water is needed in fields, especially during transplantation and growth stages.
- Stages in Traditional Paddy Farming
- Nursery Sowing: Paddy seeds are first raised in nursery beds.
- Transplantation: Seedlings are transplanted into flooded fields after 3–4 weeks.
- Irrigation and Weeding: Fields are kept waterlogged while weeds are removed periodically.
- Harvesting: Mature crop is cut manually using sickles.
- Threshing and Winnowing: Grains are separated from stalks and cleaned before storage.
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Preventive Measures
- Early Monitoring: Experts recommend regular inspection of nurseries and early-stage fields because infection begins during the nursery phase itself.
- Vector Control: Farmers should monitor white-backed plant hopper infestation by gently tapping plants and observing insects floating on water surfaces.
- Light Traps: Yellow-light bulb traps installed near nurseries and fields during night help detect and control insect populations early.
- Field Hygiene: Removing weeds and alternate grassy hosts from bunds and irrigation channels reduces insect breeding and disease transmission.
- Timely Transplantation: Agricultural scientists advise following the recommended transplantation schedule between June 20 and 25 to reduce exposure to insect multiplication.
- Scientific Insecticide Use: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU)-recommended insecticides should be sprayed immediately after insect detection to limit disease spread.
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Conclusion
Early monitoring, vector control and scientific farming practices are essential to prevent paddy dwarfing disease and protect Punjab’s rice productivity.
22 May 2026
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