Mustard Crop Under Attack: Aphids & White Rust Threaten Yield in Lakhimpur Kheri

• Mustard farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri face severe threats from aphids and white rust due to changing weather conditions.
• Aphids, small black insects, suck sap from leaves and flowers, causing yellowing, shriveling, and pod drop, significantly reducing yield.
• White rust, a fungal disease, causes white blisters and yellow spots on leaves, prevalent in moist, loose soil conditions.
• Timely intervention is crucial: neem oil for aphids and sulfur powder (25 kg/acre) for white rust are recommended treatments.
• Agricultural scientist Pradeep Bisen advises minimal irrigation, timely fertilizer application (urea after first irrigation), and frost protection measures like smoke generation or light morning irrigation.

Why It Matters: Farmers must act quickly against aphids and white rust with recommended treatments to save mustard crops and boost yield.