Tamil Nadu - Erode   

MYRADA-KVK offers remedy to mealy bug attack

ERODE: Severe mealy bug attack on papaya, mulberry and other crops has drawn the attention of MYRADA-KVK, an Indian Council for Agriculture Research organisation.

In a release, the KVK, which translates to farm science centre, says chemical as well as organic methods are available to treat mealy bug attack.

It asks farmers to take the following preliminary steps: uproot and burn heavily infested plants; remove Parthenium and other weed hosts in and around the field; not throw uprooted weeds in water channels; and, locate and destroy ant colonies in and around the affected field, as ant holes provide an ideal cover for mealy bug from predators and as ants take mealy bug embryos from healthy to sick plants.

The KVK release further asks farmers to follow the steps, recommended by the National Centre for Integrated Pest Management: spray bio pesticides like Verticillium lecanii by mixing 5 ml with a litre of water during humid conditions.

For severe mealy bug attack, the organisation asks farmers to spray Profenophos 50 EC at 500 ml an acre; Quinalphos 25 EC at 800 ml an acre and Chlorpyriphos 25 EC at 2,000 ml an acre. It asks the farmers to spray the pesticide once or thrice in rotation by adding wetting agents or spreaders.

As for organic solution, MYRADA-KVK asks farmers to spray a concoction containing 250 ml of Pungam oil, 250 ml neem oil and 100 ml of wetting agent for an acre. The duration: every 10 days or as and when needed. It also suggests an alternative: preparation of a pest repellent by soaking of a paste containing 250 gm each of chillies, ginger, garlic and small onion in cow urine for a day or two. And, use 300 ml of the pest repellent with wetting agent in 10 litre water on the affected field twice or thrice in a week or 10 days.

The release also adds that the mealy bug treatment has become difficult because of destruction of its natural predators and fast multiplying capacity. Further information can be had at 04285-226695.

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