“Key Informant Survey” of Production, Value, Losses and ... - DfID

that spraying insecticides is only the way out of the pest attack. He has used
monocrotophos, dichlorvos, phorate, etofenprox, endosulfan for the control of hoppers
and leaf folders during this year. He is not happy with the performance of the
insecticides against hoppers and leaf folders.
TOBACCO He said that this is a good cash crop and giving good income. He is growing
"Calcutti" tobacco after harvesting paddy. He said that due to disease locally called
as "Kohvaro" (damping off) thousands of seedlings die in the nursery. He mentioned
that drenching of fungicide viz., Ridomil M Z is giving good results. After 2-3
months of transplanting the crop, Spodoptera litura (locally called as "Lashkari
Iyal") attacks the crop. He further added that it feeds on leaves and hence cause
yield losses. He said that spraying insecticide is giving good results against this
pest. He is using the insecticide as per guidance from the shop keeper/pesticide
dealer.
#A010 DATE 3/10/03 TEAM RCJ/DBS Village Vansar (Udhela), Dist. Kheda. He is a medium
farmer having 2.0 ha land. He is growing bitter gourd in 0.5 ha land. He has to feed
15 members. He said that he gets income from bitter gourd for about 9 months and then
he has to depends on cattle and other crops.
CROPS He is growing bitter gourd, paddy, bajra and sesamum.
BITTER GOURD He said that he is growing bitter gourd since 15 years and it is good
remunerative crop round the year. He also said that in small land holding, it gives
good income and require a minimum expenditure.
BITTER GOURD PESTS He said that bitter gourd is attacked by fruit fly, leaf hoppers
and fruit borer.
FRUIT FLY He said that this is notorious pest causing 30 to 25% damage to the fruits,
hence it can cause economical damage. He said that it is difficult to control this
pest as it is flying. According to him, infestation starts from March-April as fruits
are available during this period. As per his views, adult fly cause damage by seating
on the fruit. He explained that during earlier years there was lower damage compared
to damage now he is observing.
FRUIT FLY CONTROL He knows two methods for the control of fruit fly.
FRUIT FLY CONTROL: SPRAYS (1) Spraying of insecticides He said that he has sprayed
dimethoate (Rogor), monocrotophos, dichlorvos (Nuvan), imidacloprid (Tatamida) to
control this pest. He said that this practice is good particularly during peak
activity period and it is giving good results also.
FRUIT FLY CONTROL: TRAPS (2) ME traps He has hanged traps in the pendal by putting
the cotton swab soaked in the ME + Nuvan (dichlorvos) mixture. He doesn't know the
exact quantity of ME + Nuvan. He said that cotton swab should be completely wet. He
doesn't know which flies are attracted and which flies cause damage to his crop.
LEAF HOPPERS He said that this pest attack during initial stage of the crop and cause
yellowing of the plant. He has sprayed insecticide viz., dimethoate (Rogor) and
imidacloprid (Tatamida) to control this pest.
FRUIT BORER He said that this is a serious pest of bitter gourd and the infestation
starts from July i.e., after onset of monsoon and increases gradually and remains up
to October month. He sprayed insecticides viz., monocrotophos, endosulfan, dimethoate
suggested by shop keeper/pesticide dealer but he is not satisfied with the
performance of insecticides.
PADDY He has grown this crop in the area of 0.25 ha for his consumption and for
IMFFI Semi-Structured Interview Survey - 15 of 66