Ludhiana, June 7 -- With basmati rice cultivation expanding rapidly across Punjab, experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have sounded an alert over the increasing incidence of foot rot disease, a major threat that can significantly reduce yields and affect grain quality.

The disease has emerged as one of the most serious challenges for basmati growers, particularly in districts such as Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala and Tarn Taran, where moderate to high infections have been reported in recent years.

Punjab remains one of the country's key basmati-producing states, with around 6.8 lakh hectares under cultivation and a production of nearly 34.32 lakh tonnes during 2024-25. The crop enjoys strong demand in domestic a...