A one-day training program on ‘Integrated Management of Fall Armyworm’ for pesticide dealers of Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts was jointly organized by the Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, TNAU and State Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Coimbatore and Tiruppur Districts) on Thursday.
The Director, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, K. Prabakar in his special address traced the invasion of Fall Armyworm during 2018. He elaborated on the unscientific practices followed by farmers for Fall Armyworm until an ad hoc IPM measure was suggested by TNAU. He recalled how a special project on Fall Armyworm management has been allotted by the Government for implementation by TNAU.
He informed that the scientists of TNAU along with about 28 Task Force Scientists from major maize growing districts of Tamil Nadu have made intensive field surveys to assess the level of infestation and disseminated the IPM capsule devised by TNAU. He also opined that the pesticide dealers have a crucial role in providing the right insecticidal recommendations for the approaching farmers.
The Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Entomology, S.V.Krishnamoorthy in his inaugural address elaborated on the need for this training. He stressed that the input or pesticide dealers are the first ones whom farmers approach for their plant protection measures. Hence, the dealers have to be very cautious in advocating the right insecticide, at the right time, at the right dose and at the right stage of the crop.
N. Sathiah, Project Consultant (Fall Armyworm Project) recalled the status of the invasive Fall Armyworm in maize crop since 2018. He advised the farmers to give importance to judicious use of insecticides keeping in mind the role of natural enemies in controlling Fall Armyworm.
He also stressed the need for border cropping to enhance predators and parasitoids, pheromone traps to monitor the Fall Armyworm and seed treatment for early-stage plant protection.
S. Manoharan, Joint Director of Agriculture, Tiruppur, R. Chitradevi, Joint Director of Agriculture, Coimbatore and Punitha, Agricultural Officer (Quality Control), Coimbatore district graced the occasion and advised the dealers to provide scientific recommendations to the farming community as farmers have greater faith on the pesticide dealers.
About 60 dealers from Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts have got benefitted from this training program.