Archive · 28 Nov 2025
Black-Gram Plant Leaf Disease Hits Pulse Crops
Farmers in the Dhakuakhana region of Lakhimpur, who had a bad rice crop because of not enough rain, planted black lentils instead.
But now, their black lentil plants are getting sick with two diseases: one turns the leaves black, and the other turns them yellow.
This is making the plants weak and reducing the amount of food they can produce.
The farmers are upset because they say no one from the agriculture office has come to help them or teach them how to stop the diseases.
The yellow disease is especially bad because it can destroy up to 70% of the crop.
More than 200 bighas of black lentil crops affected by black-gram plant leaf disease (BPLD) and yellow mosaic disease in Lakhimpur’s Dhakuakhana region.
Farmers, primarily from ST communities, faced financial losses due to the diseases after a failed rice crop because of insufficient rainfall.
Yellow mosaic disease, caused by a virus transmitted by whiteflies, can lead to 50 to 70 percent crop loss.
Farmers allege that the sub-divisional agriculture department has not sent officials to inspect the fields or educate them about the diseases.
The diseases cause yellowing and withering of leaves, leading to reduced quality and quantity of the produce.
- Who
- Farmers in Lakhimpur’s Dhakuakhana region, primarily from ST communities
- What
- Black-gram plant leaf disease (BPLD) and yellow mosaic disease affecting pulse crops
- When
- During the winter season, with the current situation reported on November 28
- Where
- Villages of Alimur-Dangdhora and Kekuri-Sonari Chapori Gaon Panchayat areas in west Dhakuakhana, Lakhimpur
- Why
- Due to insufficient rainfall leading to a failed rice crop, farmers switched to black lentil, which is now affected by diseases
- Affected Area
- Dhakuakhana region, Lakhimpur
- Affected Crops
- Black lentil (black-gram)
- Diseases
- Black-gram plant leaf disease (BPLD), Yellow mosaic disease
- Affected Land
- More than 200 bighas
- Crop Loss
- 50 to 70 percent
- Affected Communities
- ST communities
- Cause of Yellow Mosaic Disease
- Virus transmitted by whiteflies