Pest attack has assumed an alarming proportion in Kalahandi district. The field report of Agriculture Department has pegged the paddy crop damage at 41,619 hectares (ha) and of this, crops in 18,000 ha have been damaged by brown planthopper (BPH) insect. Farmers, however, feel the actual damage is much more than what has been reflected in the official report. Paddy crop is in ripe stage and farmers are preparing to harvest them within a fortnight. Pests like BPH, white black plant hopper (WBPH), stem borer, leaf folder, case worm, Gundhi bug and crop diseases like Blast, Sheath and Blight have been reported in different blocks. Incidence of crop damage due to BPH and WBPH is high. There are 13 blocks in Kalahandi district and according to the field report of the department, except Thuamul Rampur block, crops in the remaining blocks have been affected. Golamunda, Dharamgarh, Junagarh, Kesinga, Bhawanipatna, Kalampur, Narla, Karlamunda, Koksara and M Rampur blocks are most affected. In Indravati irrigated pockets under Golamunda and Dharamgarh blocks, the pest infection is proportionately high.