In Faridkot, Punjab, wheat crops are facing a severe infestation of the pink stem borer, a pest causing significant damage. This attack is particularly intense in areas where paddy straw was left unburned, and Happy Seeders were used for sowing wheat.

Although these technologies were introduced to prevent the environmental harm of burning straw, they seem to have inadvertently created a favorable environment for the pest to thrive.

The pest infestation has worsened due to higher temperatures in early December, affecting wheat crops sown in the first half of November more than those sown later.

Agriculture officers have advised farmers to use insecticides to control the spread, but there are concerns about the environmental consequences of excessive pesticide use.

Farmers in Punjab are already facing numerous challenges, including delayed wheat sowing and pest attacks, and while the temperatures are expected to drop, the extent of the damage and the effectiveness of the pest control measures remain uncertain.