Watch out for fall armyworm: PAU experts to maize farmers

Strap: Caution against attack of insect-pests on vegetable crop too

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 4

Experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have cautioned farmers against the attack of fall armyworm (FAW) pest on maize and insect-pests (whitefly, thrip, etc.) on vegetable crops.

They have advised farmers to continuously survey the crop and adopt PAU recommendations to control the pest.

Dr Surinder Sandhu, in charge, maize section, advised farmers to remain vigilant and survey their fields thoroughly. “In Punjab, the sowing of kharif maize is in full swing in the districts of Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Ropar, Jalandhar and Pathankot. The crop is sown from the last week of May to the end of June. So, most of the crop, presently in younger stage, is vulnerable to the attack of FAW,” she said.

The incidence of this pest has been observed in different areas of Punjab, she said, urging farmers not to panic as it could be managed by adopting timely control measures.

Referring to its symptoms, she said: “The larva of FAW has white-coloured inverted Y-shaped mark on the head and four spots in square pattern at the rear end. The central whorl leaves of damaged plants have big holes and lot of excreta.”

Farmers can easily identify this pest to follow its control measures, she added. Dr Sandhu emphasised to sow the grain crop by the end of June only and prefer to sow the fodder maize not later than mid-August to reduce spread.

Dr Jawala Jindal, senior entomologist (maize), said: “In 2016, FAW spread to many parts of Central and West Africa and by 2018 it had also reached southern states of India. Due to its ability to rapid spread by long flight (100 km per night), it spread throughout the maize-growing areas. The FAW infestation was also found in Punjab in late kharif maize in 2019,” Dr Jindal said.

Dr Ravinder Singh Chandi, assistant entomologist, warned farmers against the attack of insect-pests on vegetables such as brinjal, okra and chilli and urged them to follow PAU package of practices for their management. He recommended them to use fruit fly trap technology, which was eco-friendly.