Planthoppers destroyed 30% of province’s rice production in Thailand

by
Orapin Wattanesk, Acting Director, Research Bureau, Rice Department, Thailand
Manit Luecha, Director, Chainat Seed Center, Rice Department, Thailand

Typical scene of fields with hopperburn in Phichit Province

The brown planthopper (BPH) has infested several provinces in Central Thailand in the in season of 2009/2010 and Phichit province was badly affected. Agricultural authorities reported that about 490,000 rai (78,400 ha) have been destroyed which is about 30% of the province’s 1.6 million rai (256,000 ha) of rice production. More than 28,000 farm households in the province have been badly affectedby the pest outbreaks. Farmers here had typically planted short duration (about 75 days) varieties and had routinely applied abamectin and cypermethrin insecticides to “protect” their crops. These insecticides have properties that can induce secondary development and resurgence in BPH populations . The provincial government released about 15 million baht (US$ 455,000) to combat the pest and most of this is to purchase pesticides, provide training in correct use of pesticides and knowledge on planthoppers. Two D-Day campaigns in Tambon and Muang districts were launched.

Many of the fields, infected with two virus diseases, the rice ragged stunt (RRSV) and the rice grassy stunt (RGSV) transmitted by the BPH, have been abandoned. These can be potential sources of further virus spread to provinces where farmers are beginning to plant.