Radhi, known as the rice bowl of eastern Bhutan, is facing a threat to its paddy production this year. Farmers in the lower parts of Radhi Gewog in Trashigang are losing their paddy to a pest, mole cricket.
Farmers said the pest, locally known as Phagpa Buu lives in the soil and attacks paddy plant’s stem.
The pest prefers moist, non-flooded soil, but can also be found in permanent burrows on field borders.
With plants drying up, some paddy fields are slowly getting empty.
Farmers said their hard work is going to be wasted.
Yeshi Wangchuk, a farmer from Jonla village said, “Earlier, the insects used to damage only a few plants, but this year the damage is much worse. Some fields have even turned empty. I don’t understand. We didn’t get water supply on time due to untimely rainfall. By the time water was available, we had already delayed transplanting the paddy, and the damage is severe this year.”
Gyempo, a farmer from Dekiling village said, “I have 1.24 acres of paddy fields here, and I also cultivate land belonging to others, even from Phongmey Gewog. I usually harvest a good yield every year. But this year, I won’t be able to produce much. Forget about selling rice, it won’t even be enough for our own consumption. I am really worried.”
The Gewog Agriculture Extension Supervisor said delay in paddy transplantation has made the damage worse, as it attacks young plants easily.
He added that water shortage and erratic rainfall further worsened the situation.
The supervisor has also advised farmers to get insecticides, but none have come forward so far.
He said the pest was present last year but did not cause this level of damage. He reported the issue to the National Plant Protection Centre last year.
Radhi Gewog produces about 1,800 metric tonnes of rice annually from more than 870 acres of land.
From next year, farmers are hopeful that timely interventions, including the upcoming irrigation project, will protect their fields from damage.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Tshering Zam
