Mustard Crop Under Threat: White Rust, Aphids Plague Farmers in Sidhi Amidst Cold Wave

• Mustard crops in Madhya Pradesh's Vindhya region face severe threat from white rust and aphid pests due to persistent fog, low temperatures, and high humidity.
• White rust, a fungal disease, causes white raised spots on lower leaves, weakening the plant and significantly reducing mustard yield if not controlled.
• Aphid pests thrive in cloudy conditions, sucking sap from tender shoots and flowers, further damaging the crop.
• Farmers are advised to remove affected leaves, spray Mancozeb for white rust, and use insecticides like Malathion for aphids.
• Protection against frost includes light irrigation and spraying sulfuric acid or thiourea; compensation is available under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

Why It Matters: Changing weather in Sidhi is severely impacting mustard crops, necessitating immediate pest and disease control measures.