Aizawl, June 22 -- A sudden outbreak of leaf folder caterpillars has caused significant damage to jhum cultivation in three villages under Khawzawl district, affecting over 80 farming families, officials from the district Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare office said on Sunday.
Following reports from affected villagers, a team, led by Assistant District Agriculture Officer Lalrammuana, was dispatched on Saturday to assess the situation in Vangtlang, Chalrang and New Chalrang.
According to the preliminary survey, paddy fields in Chalrang and New Chalrang - which share a common jhum area - have been infested by swarms of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, commonly known as the leaf folder caterpillar. Of the 210 farming families cultivating in the ar...