Scientists from the Centre for Plant Protection Studies of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and an official of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation who visited the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at Peelamedu and nearby residential areas have suggested some pest control measures to prevent the pests from causing further problem to the public.
The team that visited the areas on Wednesday, however, told the people that the insects did not cause any direct harm to human beings, but only fed and multiplied on stored food grains.
They were urged to keep stored food grains in insect-proof containers to prevent multiplication of insects.
The Area Manager of FCI Coimbatore has been asked to use UV light traps for mass trapping of stored grain insect pests in warehouses. Two traps can be placed at the corners of a warehouse of dimension of 60m X 20m X 5 m for effective storage pest management. Stack storage traps can be used in stacks of grains without damaging them.
It is been recommended to use aluminium phosphide fumigation once in 45 days if more than two insects were found in 0.5 kg of grain or on need basis. Fortnightly spraying of malathion 50 EC on alleyways and gangways, and DDVP 76 WSC for air charging, were also suggested.
FCI clarifies
Referring to reports on pest menace near the FCI godown, the management has said that it is taking efforts to control the infestation by deploying pneumatic compressor machines for cleaning the cobwebs, power sprayers for arresting the flying insects, and labourers for prophylactic and curative operations at the godown.
According to Area Manager K. Sathyakumar, machines have also been deployed for removing wild vegetation from the depot premises. The District Collector has supplied fogging machines for the cleaning and disinfecting operations.
