The agricultural authorities have recently observed an outbreak of rice blast on paddy crops,

following drastic changes in weather patterns this year.

Experts are now urging local farmers to ramp up the prevention work, in order to minimize the spread of the pathogens and keep the problem under control.

It's easy to see brown spots on blast affected leaves.

The outbreak of blast usually happens around the tomb-sweeping festival.

Due to rising temperatures and humid rainy weather, the agricultural disease is likely to develop if disease prevention effort is not in place.

This would seriously affect the production of crops.

Staffers of farmers' association also pay on-site inspection visits and discover the outbreak is spreading.

In fact, the prevention efforts can be implemented in the amount of fertilizer and irrigation.

According to the staff, a water irrigation level of 3 to 5 centimeters can effectively lower the temperature in paddy fields and reduce the chances of blast outbreak.

But since the weather is getting warmer later this year, the blast outbreak gradually emerge and the situation may get worse.

Given so, agricultural authorities urge farmers to carry out prevention work to avoid losing the harvest in the future.