KHAIRPUR: Date-palm orchards spread over thousands of acres in seven talukas of Khairpur districts are hit by a viral disease.

Date crop in Khairpur, Kot Diji, Kingri and other talukas have either damaged or threatened by the virus.

Several hundred growers are suffering heavy losses due to the unavailability of the genuine pesticide that eliminates `fruit-borer`, an insect responsible for the spread of the virus.