False smut outbreak in Punjab
False Smut Crisis Hits Punjab Paddy Fields: The 2025 kharif season in Punjab has been severely affected by false smut disease, also known locally as haldi rog. Heavy and continuous rainfall across districts triggered flooding, preventing timely anti-fungal spraying in paddy fields. The infestation has emerged strongly at the maturing and harvesting stages, creating widespread anxiety among farmers.
Static GK fact: False smut is caused by the fungus Ustilaginoidea virens and is considered a major emerging disease of rice globally.
Extent of crop damage
Reports on crop damage differ significantly. Legislators and farmer bodies claim up to 25% losses in certain regions, while experts at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) estimate a smaller impact of 2–6%. Even the lower estimate is significant, given Punjab’s vast 32.5 lakh hectares of paddy cultivation.
Economic implications
Punjab’s procurement target for this season is 180 lakh tonnes of paddy. However, floods destroyed nearly 5 lakh acres of farmland in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, and Ferozpur. This not only threatens rice yields but also delays the sowing of the rabi wheat crop due to sand deposition on fields.
Static GK Tip: Punjab and Haryana together contribute over 70% of rice to India’s central pool of foodgrains.
Institutional responsibility
Farmers have criticised PAU and the state agriculture department for failing to issue timely advisories. This delay caused missed opportunities for anti-fungal spraying. Experts have admitted the presence of false smut but have tried to downplay the scale. Former officials also highlighted unreported outbreaks like Chinese dwarf disease, raising concerns about weak surveillance mechanisms.
Procurement status
Despite the crisis, paddy procurement began earlier than usual on 15 September 2025. Over 1.96 lakh tonnes of paddy have already arrived in mandis, with expectations of higher arrivals as harvesting expands. The process is vital for stabilising farmer incomes and ensuring food security in the state.
Static GK fact: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the main agency for procurement and distribution of paddy and wheat in India.
Wider agricultural challenges
Punjab’s agriculture remains vulnerable to climate-related shocks such as floods, heavy rainfall, and unseasonal weather. These events create favourable conditions for plant diseases and complicate management practices. Experts stress the need for stronger disease surveillance, better advisory mechanisms, and promotion of resilient cropping systems to reduce long-term risks.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
False Smut Crisis Hits Punjab Paddy Fields:
| Topic | Detail |
| Disease | False Smut (haldi rog) in paddy |
| Pathogen | Ustilaginoidea virens fungus |
| Affected state | Punjab (Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Ferozpur) |
| Estimated loss | 2–25% of paddy crop |
| Cultivation area | 32.5 lakh hectares under paddy |
| Flood impact | 5 lakh acres destroyed |
| Procurement target | 180 lakh tonnes of paddy |
| Procurement start | 15 September 2025 |
| Initial procurement | 1.96 lakh tonnes |
| Key institution | Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) |
