Patiala, Aug. 8 -- A few farmers in Patiala district are re-transplanting paddy in areas affected by the dwarf virus as a measure to mitigate the impact of widespread crop damage. They are reportedly resorting to this action after experiencing repeated failures in controlling the virus outbreak despite using recommended insecticides. The distressed farmers have blamed Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana, for their losses as they had sown university's recommended seed procured from the university itself. The SRBSDV, causing a rice dwarf disease, poses a significant threat to rice production in Punjab, with notable damage reported in several districts this year. Farmer Gurvinder Singh of Bathoi Kalan village in Patiala, whose 10 acres of paddy fields has been affected by the virus, said, "I tried all the possible pesticides to stop the spread but to no avail. Though I have decided to re-transplant paddy, I am finding it difficult to procure seedlings." Another distressed farmer, whose eight acres of paddy have been affected by the attack of dwarf virus, said, "Despite sowing PAU-recommended varieties of paddy, our crops have been under attack by this virus. Now, insecticides recommended by PAU are not working against the virus."...