Kottayam: The standing crop of paddy at the Melazheeyam polders is suffering from leaf blight and root wilt, dashing the hopes of farmers once again.

Every season, farmers set out with renewed hope, pouring significant money and resources into leased and owned land to cultivate paddy. It is amidst this that the paddy seedlings, which should have been at a healthy growth stage by now, have been caught by these infections.

The Agricultural Office authorities observe the disease to be a bacterial infection. Based on their directions, the farmers tried many measures to save the crop, but none has been truly effective so far.

That the paddy seedlings, just 20 days old, have already been struck by the disease has pushed the farmers into severe distress, coming on top of the losses they have suffered due to climate change and the constant raids by wild pigs and peacocks. The farmers have been demanding urgent intervention by the higher-ups of the department to address the issue.

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