Scientists at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar, Haryana, have found a disease in millet crops caused by the Klebsiella Aerogenes bacteria for the first time, according to a statement released on Thursday.

They have begun working to contain the disease and are optimistic about exploring fresh avenues for fixing the problem.

The novel illness has been recognised by the American Phytopathological Society, which has published it in its journal Plant Diseases.

After three years of research, the condition was discovered in 2018. At the moment, it has been identified in up to 70 per cent of the millet crop in the state, primarily in the districts of Hisar, Bhiwani and Rewari.