Haryana govt taking steps to deal with virus outbreak in paddy: Agri minister

Haryana agriculture minister Shyam Singh Rana on Tuesday informed the assembly that out of the total 40 lakh acre area under paddy cultivation, the paddy in 92,000 acres have been affected by what is called southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV).

Replying to calling attention notices of Congress MLA Aditya Surjewala and INLD MLAs Arjun Chautala and Aditya Devilal regarding outbreak of the virus in question in paddy crops in Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Yamunanagar and Kaithal districts, Rana assured the assembly that the government is alert and taking necessary steps to deal with the threat SRBSDV is posing to the paddy.

The minister said that agricultural scientists are monitoring the situation, and farmers are being made aware. He informed that the said virus has not affected the organic farming and direct seeding of rice (DSR). He said if farmers sow paddy according to the state government’s agriculture policy and the advice of agricultural scientists, then such diseases can be largely prevented.

Rana said that SRBSDV is a viral disease that affects the paddy crop and has become a matter of concern in many rice-producing areas of India. This disease spreads through a vector called white-backed plant hopper, which sucks the sap of paddy plants and transmits the virus from infected plants to healthy ones.

The agriculture minister said that the outbreak of this virus was first reported in Haryana during the Kharif 2022 season. In Kharif 2023 and 2024, no outbreak was reported due to effective preventive measures and increased awareness among farmers. Before Kharif 2025, farmers were well informed, and precautions were repeated.

The first cases were reported from Kaithal district and later from Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Jind and Panchkula districts. Farmers in these areas complained of abnormal dwarfing of plants in their fields. He said the problem was mainly observed in fields where farmers had transplanted paddy before June 15.

This article has been republished from The Hindustan Times.