IMD’s Agrimet has advised farmers in Telangana to spray insecticides on crops of rice to control the menace of mite and stem borer in some regions. Last week, the weather was more congenial for the spread of leaf mite in rice and timely spray of insecticides is required to control the damage. Farmers in the state have sown rice over 494,000 ha as of last week, up 8% on year, as per farm ministry data. Weak rains in the state have resulted in favourable weather for the insects to breed. The state has received 12% below normal rains so far in Jun-Sep.