Weather
7 January 2026
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Source:Regional News Reports (January 5–7, 2026)
Late Blight Outbreak and Price Collapse Amid Severe North India Cold Wave
Late Blight Outbreak and Price Collapse Amid Severe North India Cold Wave
Late Blight Outbreak and Price Collapse Amid Severe North India Cold Wave
NORTH INDIA: Fungal Threats and Market Turmoil
Across the primary potato belts of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, the persistence of dense fog and high nighttime humidity (exceeding 85%) has created an ideal environment for Late Blight (Jhulsa Rog).
Reports from Hathras and Aligarh (UP) indicate that nearly 65% of crops in certain blocks are already showing signs of fungal infection. Farmers have been seen in viral social media footage and regional news clips expressing frustration as common fungicides appear less effective against the current aggressive strain.
Simultaneously, a severe price crash has hit mandis in Jalandhar and Ambala, with wholesale rates dropping below ₹4 per kg, leaving growers unable to recover even their seed and fertilizer costs.
BIHAR & EAST INDIA: Sunlight Scarcity Triggers Alerts
In Gopalganj and Katihar (Bihar), agricultural departments have issued an "Epidemic Alert." The region has faced over six days without significant sunlight, a condition that catalyzes the rapid spread of Jhulsa. Scientists from Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) have advised immediate preventive spraying of Mancozeb or Antracol, warning that waiting for visual symptoms could lead to a total crop wipeout within 48 to 72 hours.
Bangladesh: Epidemic Risk
Across the border in Northern Bangladesh (Naogaon and Bogura), reports from The Daily Star and Asia News Network highlight that the 17-district cold wave is endangering the winter potato crop. Experts at the Tuber Crop Research Center have flagged high humidity (above 85%) as the primary catalyst for an imminent Late Blight outbreak, recommending that farmers cover seedbeds with polythene to shield young plants from the biting cold.
Expert Advice and Field Measures
To combat the dual threat of frost and blight, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has released an emergency advisory:
Nighttime Vigilance: Conduct light irrigation in the evenings to stabilize soil temperature and prevent frostbite.
Preventive Action: Use systemic fungicides like Ridomil Gold or Curzate if weather remains cloudy.
Avoid Over-Fertilization: Farmers are cautioned against using excessive urea during fog, as it makes the plants more susceptible to infection
NORTH INDIA: Fungal Threats and Market Turmoil
Across the primary potato belts of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, the persistence of dense fog and high nighttime humidity (exceeding 85%) has created an ideal environment for Late Blight (Jhulsa Rog).
Reports from Hathras and Aligarh (UP) indicate that nearly 65% of crops in certain blocks are already showing signs of fungal infection. Farmers have been seen in viral social media footage and regional news clips expressing frustration as common fungicides appear less effective against the current aggressive strain.
Simultaneously, a severe price crash has hit mandis in Jalandhar and Ambala, with wholesale rates dropping below ₹4 per kg, leaving growers unable to recover even their seed and fertilizer costs.
BIHAR & EAST INDIA: Sunlight Scarcity Triggers Alerts
In Gopalganj and Katihar (Bihar), agricultural departments have issued an "Epidemic Alert." The region has faced over six days without significant sunlight, a condition that catalyzes the rapid spread of Jhulsa. Scientists from Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) have advised immediate preventive spraying of Mancozeb or Antracol, warning that waiting for visual symptoms could lead to a total crop wipeout within 48 to 72 hours.
Bangladesh: Epidemic Risk
Across the border in Northern Bangladesh (Naogaon and Bogura), reports from The Daily Star and Asia News Network highlight that the 17-district cold wave is endangering the winter potato crop. Experts at the Tuber Crop Research Center have flagged high humidity (above 85%) as the primary catalyst for an imminent Late Blight outbreak, recommending that farmers cover seedbeds with polythene to shield young plants from the biting cold.
Expert Advice and Field Measures
To combat the dual threat of frost and blight, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has released an emergency advisory:
Nighttime Vigilance: Conduct light irrigation in the evenings to stabilize soil temperature and prevent frostbite.
Preventive Action: Use systemic fungicides like Ridomil Gold or Curzate if weather remains cloudy.
Avoid Over-Fertilization: Farmers are cautioned against using excessive urea during fog, as it makes the plants more susceptible to infection
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