Shimla, Apr 4 (IANS): A fungal disease called Yellow Rust has again hit the wheat crop in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said Wednesday.
"Yellow Rust has again affected the wheat crop. This year's loss was assessed at 2.24 crore," Dhumal, who holds the agriculture portfolio, said in the assembly.
Last year's loss owing to the fungal disease was Rs.5.5 crore out of the total estimated crop of Rs.668 crore.
Dhumal said the government had phased out two wheat varieties - PBW 343 and PBW 502. Both are prone to Yellow Rust.
The disease, Dhumal said, has also affected the wheat crop in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana.