Kuzhovesa Soho
Phek | July 25
The farming community of Phek while experiencing a joyful year in view of the good monsoon, an unexpected situation has arose confronting their beautiful paddy with no option other than praying to Almighty and reporting the matter to the concerned department.
Interacting with the Morung Express, Thuputhiyi S Venuh, Chief Coordinator, Phek Farmers’ Club disclosed that some 'strange and peculiar insects' (resembling a caterpillar) started invading some terrace paddy fields in Phek and was gradually destroying the paddy. The insects from the past five days is said to have increased in great numbers.
The 'peculiar insects' as per the report was found eating up the green leaves of the paddy – where some farmers were hesitant to kill the insects on superstitious beliefs that by killing them, the insects might increase more since those insects were never found in the area.
Venuh, who personally inspected the spot, reported the matter to the DAO, Phek for the early department intervention into the matter. He was however advised by the DAO to let the concerned authority to officially write to the department for better coordination and process the matter through the right channel while pursuing the higher authority.
When contacted DAO Phek Imtitemjem, he said he had already received the official intimation from the Village Council Phek and added that he was preparing to launch a spot verification by a team of his department officials.
Expressing his concerns towards the farming community for repeatedly facing unexpected problems for the past few years, he said he was on the process of preparing every possible measure to tackle the menace with special focus for the farming
process.
Meanwhile, the grasshopper which invaded Kohima and some other towns in huge numbers few years back has started to invade Phek Town. The residents of the town were reported to have been collecting the grasshoppers under the street lights for consumption.
Fearing the invasion of unexpected insects in the region might affect the lives of the residents of the district, Venuh on behalf of the entire farming community appealed the believers to pray for the restoration of a normal situation. He further appealed the farmers to report to the concerned authority without any delayed.
Venuh also urged the DAO Phek to take the necessary measures at the earliest and put up to the higher authority for the early intervention at their ends.
