Tea mosquito bug kills neem trees in Tumakuru district

In most parts of Tumakuru district, neem trees have fallen sick due to infestation by the tea mosquito bug.

As a result, the leaves curl up and die in the sprouting stage itself; finally ending in the destruction of the entire tree.  

Farmers are baffled by this phenomenon. When they seek intervention of the agricultural department, they are told that neem trees are in the purview of the forest department. And forest department officials have no idea how to combat the menace.      

The Sahaja Besaya Shala and Tumakuru Vignana Kendra functionaries met the deputy commissioner K P Mohan Raj and presented a memorandum to him.

The DC has assured that he will request a report by the assistant conservator of forests and take up the matter.  

Scientist C Yatiraju said that earlier, the same bug had infested cashew trees in neighbouring Kasaragod district, Kerala, and pesticides had been used to destroy them.    

He cautioned that the bug could also infest jack fruit, guava, mango and other crops as well and the damage has to be contained without delay.