In Sharda Municipality-9 Bagchaur, Salchaur, Banskhola, Nepane of Salyan, an outbreak of thorn scale insect has been observed in the paddy crops planted by farmers. Due to pest infestation, more than 300 plantations of rice planted in the field have been damaged.

More than two hundred farmers of four settlements have been affected due to the outbreak of the thorny scale insect. After the insect eats the green part of the rice and leaves turn white  Farmers are worried. Farmers have requested the concerned authorities for pest control. 

Kul Bahadur Wali, a farmer of Banskhola, said that insects have started to destroy the paddy crops planted in 7-plant fields. He says that the insects that were seen only on two or four plants at the beginning have now spread all over. Last year too, the insects were a surprise. After informing the Agricultural Development Office and the agricultural sector of Sharda Municipality, the pesticide provided by the office was brought under control,' he said, 'even now the same problem has been repeated.'

Another farmer of Bagchaur, Nandaram Budhathoki, said that due to the infestation of insects, the paddy which was spreading green in the fields now started to look white. I have planted paddy in 5 fields. Almost all of them have seen spiny scabies. At first, I didn't pay much attention when I saw two/four. Now there are scattered," he said, "due to the outbreak of this insect, there was a decline in production last year. The situation has come to be the same now.' 

Seema Budhathoki, agricultural technician of Sharada municipality-9 ward office, said that not only the thorny scale insect but also the leaf beetle was found in the rice crops planted by the farmers in different parts of the ward. He says that due to the spread of the insect, there may be a lot of damage to the paddy crop in the coming days. She said that now the ward is providing pesticides to the farmers after the outbreak of insects in the paddy field.