Part I OF I Tamil Nadu.pmd - National Innovation Foundation

PART I : INNOVATIONS FROM TAMIL NADU
22
Plant protection practices
a) Discolouration in bhindi (Abelmorchuos esculentus) & Chilli leaf spot and Powdery
Mildew Disease
Juice is extracted from the leaves of Prosopis juliflora and diluted with water. When
bhindi pods are discoloured (light yellow or white) the same extract is sprayed on the
fields. It is also sprayed in Chilli (Capsicum spp) fields two months after planting for
controlling the leaf spots and powdery mildew disease. For spraying one acre, three litre
of leaf extract suffices.
V K Jayaveeran
Madurai
b) Pests and diseases of Paddy
Sacks filled with eight kg of ‘neem’ cakes are immersed in irrigation channels to control
stem borer, gall fly and bacterial wilt. The ‘neem’ cake is used 18 to 20 days after planting
and has to be supplemented every 25 days.
c) Green Algae
For controlling algae in irrigation wells
that choke the foot-value of pumps,
one bundle of dried paddy straw (about
20 kg weight) is chopped into small
particles and immersed in the water.
TAMIL NADU INNOVATES 33
He received a Consolation award in
NIF’s First National Competition for
Grassroots Innovations and
Traditional Knowledge Practices in
2001.