After North, adverse weather triggers pest attack on cotton crops in S India

AFTER North India, cotton crops in South India are now grappling with a severe pest outbreak triggered by abnormal weather, raising fears of reduced yields and further decline in the country's overall cotton production.

- JITENDRA CHOUBEY @New Delhi

Prolonged monsoon spells and high humidity in August have led to a surge in "boll rot" disease across cotton fields in Andhra Pradesh. According to experts, this year's outbreak is more severe than in recent years, with scientists recommending integrated pest management practices advised by the Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR).