A brand new species of pest is inflicting injury to chilli crops in a number of states of South India. Thrips parvispinus, an invasive pest from Indonesia, first noticed in 2015, has unfold quickly, affecting about 9 lakh acres of chillies in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Scientists from Professor Jaishankar Telangana State Agricultural University mentioned that the an infection has additionally been seen in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Dr. R Jagadishwar, director of analysis of the college, mentioned, “In all the places where chillies are grown, there is an outbreak of this species. The infestation is so severe that we find 20-25 insects on each bud or flower.” Officials in each the states mentioned they have been ready for the ultimate suggestions of scientists from the Institute of Horticulture Research, Bengaluru, who had not too long ago visited each the states.
A workforce of scientists from Prof. Jaishankar University and IIHR, Bengaluru additionally visited a number of fields and gave recommendations to the farmers to cope with the an infection.
“Due to the extreme use of pesticides, the pest has developed resistance … It has additionally unfold to vegetable crops together with drumstick bushes, and has been noticed in some locations on cotton crops … Chilli crop on this season high quality and yield will likely be affected,” Dr Jagdishwar mentioned.
Farmers in Warangal and Khammam in Telangana and Guntur, Prakasam and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh have uprooted the affected crop and horticulture division officers in each the states have sowed various crops like Bengal gram.
Dr TVK Singh, former Dean of Agriculture at Prof Jaishankar University, mentioned that the an infection elevated from the primary week of November. “Initially, it was mistaken for a weevil and farmers used flawed pesticides, resulting from which it flared up. This new species of thrips got here to Papaya from Indonesia in 2015. So far no systematic analysis has been achieved on this. It wants much more research to get the an infection underneath management,” he mentioned.
Telangana Deputy Director of Horticulture Okay Venugopal, who was with the workforce of scientists, mentioned thrips infestation was widespread in all of the areas they visited. “We also saw mite infestations and viral diseases. Farmers were using fungicides and insecticides in excessive amounts without realizing that it was helping the pest,” he mentioned.
In Andhra Pradesh, further director (horticulture) M Venkateswaralu mentioned chilli crops in Guntur, Prakasam, Krishna and Kurnool districts have been hit by thrips. “The downside in Guntur was critical, however we began a marketing campaign within the first week of November, recommending farmers to not use an excessive amount of pesticide and use of neem oil and neem cake. Little is understood about this new invasive species and additional analysis is required,” he mentioned.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
