PARADIP: Paddy crop over thousands of hectares has been damaged by brown planthoppers in Jagatsinghpur district.

In the current kharif season, paddy was cultivated over 75,000 hectares in the district. However, the crops were completely damaged by the brown planthoppers.

Sources said the brown planthoppers suck the sap of the plant, pluck the xylem and phloem vessels turning leaves yellow.