Punjab: Paddy crop over 34,000 hectares hit by dwarf disease

This is the first time that southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV), which is also known as the dwarf disease, has been detected in Punjab. It was first reported in 2001 from Southern China

Chandigarh: The dwarf disease has been observed in the paddy crop over 34,000 hectares in Punjab with the state agriculture department projecting an average of 5 per cent crop loss in the affected fields.

According to the latest survey by the department, the maximum impact of the dwarf disease was reported in paddy fields of Mohali (6,440 hectares), Pathankot (4,520 hectares), Gurdaspur (3,933 hectares), Ludhiana (3,500 hectares), Patiala (3,500 hectares) and Hoshiarpur (2,782 hectares), a senior official of the agriculture department said on Monday.

Ludhiana-based Punjab Agricultural University had earlier found southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV), which is also known as the dwarf disease, behind the stunting of paddy plants in many parts of the state.

This was the first time that SRBSDV, which was first reported in 2001 from Southern China, had been detected in Punjab.

Because of the attack of this disease, some plants were dead and some were stunted with height remaining one-third from half in comparison to the normal plants in some paddy fields, farm experts said.

Following the reports of stunting of paddy plants, the state agriculture department conducted a survey to assess the impact of SRBSDV disease on paddy fields in Punjab.

According to the survey, the dwarf disease has been found in the paddy area of 34,347 hectares in Punjab.

“The maximum impact of the disease was seen in Mohali, Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Ludhiana,” the official told

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