Dharamshala, Sept. 13 -- The southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) has been detected in several paddy-growing pockets of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra and Sirmaur districts, raising concern among farmers and agriculture experts.

State agriculture authorities have intensified field surveillance after the detection of the virus, which causes severe stunting, yellowing, and underdeveloped roots in infected paddy plants. The disease, spread by the white-backed plant hopper (WBPH), can cause significant yield losses. Paddy has been sown on nearly 72,000 hectares across Himachal, with Kangra district alone accounting for about 33,000 hectares. Currently, the rice crop is in the pinnacle initiation stage, which marks the transition from...