Chickpea crop: Insect infestation has increased in the chickpea crop, so adopt this indigenous method
Chickpea crop: In Khargone district, agriculture plays a significant role in generating income. There, during the Rabi season, farmers mostly grow wheat, maize, and gram. The region has over 70 thousand hectares of gram. Sowing is now taking place in the fields. There are ongoing irrigation visits. Scientists claim that the gram blooming stage is when the insect epidemic (gram caterpillars) occurs. Farmers should exercise caution beforehand in order to avoid this. If not, the crop will be destroyed.
Dr. GS Kulmi, Senior Scientist and Chief of Khargone Krishi Vigyan Kendra, says farmers may protect crops from insect outbreaks by using pheromone and night traps, or by spraying organic medications. But the price is high. On the other hand, local techniques may also be used to manage caterpillars in the fields. This involves planting maize plants at the time of sowing or burying tree-shaped pegs in the fields 20 to 25 days after sowing. This is the simplest and most cost-effective method of managing caterpillars.
How many pegs should be placed in an acre?
Farmers may also use two native techniques to manage caterpillars in the crops. The first method involves farmers placing wooden T-shaped pegs at different points across their gram fields. In an acre, place around 20 pegs. This will cause the caterpillar-eating birds to perch on the pegs and consume the worm as soon as they see it on the plant.
Reduced costs, increased revenue
However, the second method calls for farmers to put maize plants in between the gram crop. In order to consume grains, birds also perch on these maize plants. However, they eradicate the gram plants right away if they see caterpillars on them. By doing this, the crops may be protected against caterpillar attacks without having to use expensive crop-pesticides. Additionally, the land will profit from having two crops.
