IMD’s Agrimet has advised farmers in Andhra Pradesh to control the spread of stem borer in the paddy crop by spraying pesticides. Paddy crop in the state is at tillering stage and current weather conditions are favourable for the occurrence of the pest. Farmers have been advised to keep an eye and spray pesticides if the infestation is spotted after spells of rain. The pest enters the stem and leaves and feeds on the internal tissues, which eventually hits the yield.