Silvester D’ Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Aug 12: Snails invading agriculture lands are posing a serious problem for farmers in several places in Shankaranarayana as they repeatedly destroy paddy seeds sown by them.

Though a unique variety of snails are often seen in paddy fields during monsoons every year, a large number of the species is seen in Shankaranarayana, Yadamakki and other places this year. These snails destroy the sprouts of paddy seeds.

Farmers in Yadamakki and Shankaranarayana use drum seeder to sow pre-germinated seeds. The seeds did not grow into plants even after a week though the weather and water were conducive and quality seeds were used. Raghavendra Devadiga, a farmer, who got down to the fields, to find the reason, saw innumerable number of snails in the fields. When he picked one of them, he noticed a paddy seed on its tongue. The fast spreading snail menace has been posing a serious threat to crops in region now.

Raghavendra Upadhyaya, Subbu Bhat Yadamakki, Ganapa Kulal and others sowed seeds thrice and incurred losses.
Farmers are facing scarcity of labour, exorbitant wages and high manure prices. While it is difficult to cultivate once, sowing seeds thrice is bound to cause loss. However, they have done it with the determination of not leaving their fields barren.

Officials visit the place

When the matter was brought to the notice of concerned officials, Rajendra Shettigar and a team from the department of agriculture visited the fields of Raghavendra Upadhyaya and conducted inspection. Rajendra Shettigar saw a large number of snails in the field. He said that he will hold discussions with agricultural department scientists.

Vittal Rao, assistant director of agriculture said that they have contacted experts in Dharwad regarding snails. “The snails live by eating 227 types of plants. They are active from 5 pm till the next day’s morning. They hide under mud during the day. They can live for many days without food. If Metaldehyde (pesticide against snails) is mixed with decayed vegetable and kept in a corner of fields, they get attracted towards the vegetable, eat them and die. They can be prevented from going to other fields by drawing lines with malathion powder,” he said.