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

smoking and contamination in the latex he may fetch a fixed price for his commodity
in the market. Rubber sheet preparation is by using rubber latex along with a
coagulant namely formic acid or acetic acid. In the early morning he collects latex
from different coconut shells and pours it in the tray. Usually he gives a rest
period for tapping when the drought is very severe or when there is heavy rainfall.
He is practising inter cropping in rubber plantation with pineapple and later on in
the season with calapagonium.
BANANA PESTS & CONTROL Main problem in the banana field was attack by pseudostem
weevil followed by rhizome weevil and bunchy top of banana. He is practising use of
furadan granules in the leaf axils at various stages of the crop but only he found
temporary control and so we recommended the use of chlorpyriphos 2ml/l in the leaf
axil. In tapioca spirally white fly incidence was more.
#M008 DATE:08/03/04 TEAM: JR/MS Village Thanimoodu. A farmer who is doing farming
operation along with his job as a horoscoper. He also does pooja in nearby temple
(early morning and evening).
CHANGING FARM PHILOSOPHY He gives more importance in cultivating different crops,
also aware of the importance of organic farming and engages labourers for various
operations in the field. According to him the sincerity of newer generation towards
farming has lessened nowadays and all are trying to purchase the commodities from the
market. The size of holding of each farmer has also declined thereby reducing the
possibility of mechanization in the field and hence accounting more for labour cost.
CROPS Crops grown by him include coconut, banana, rice, tapioca, cowpea, vegetables
like amaranthus, bhindi and snakegourd..
RICE & PESTS Rice is grown in area of 3 acres. For pest management mainly resort to
pesticides like ekalux, malathion etc. Rice leaf roller, case worm, thrips are of
common occurrence.
FARMER PROGRESS Farmers are not at all aware of Integrated management practices like
use of Trichogramma cards, use of pheromone traps and biocontrol agents. They are not
aware of biofertiliser except vermicompost that also they are not practising it.
BANANA PESTS Banana crop mainly suffers from the attack of pseudostem weevil, rhizome
weevils etc. They use only the application of furadan granules. We advised them to
pour chlorpyrifos solution in their leaf axils.
FRUIT FLY MANAGEMENT Snake gourd is grown in wide area. Fruit flies are seen as a
major pest of the time. We told them to dispose the fruit either in water or deep in
to he soil so as to prevent the emergence of adult flies after pupation. We also
advised them to use different bait traps using banana and tulsi (ocimum), jaggery
etc. We set up methyl eugenol and cue lure traps in their field.
GOURD PESTS Koval Coccinia is grown in sufficiently large area as it fetches good
market value. Recently bittergourd is facing some problems. Virus, mite and hopper
together caused serious situation in bittergourd. Coccinia is facing fruitfly
infestation and gall attack.
COWPEA PESTS Cow pea is affected by pod borers. Farmers are spraying monocrotophos
for their management.
AMARANTHUS PESTS Amarathus is affected by Colletotrichum leaf spot for the management
of which they are spraying cowdung slurry along with fungicides.
#M009 DATE:08/03/04 TEAM: JR/MS Village Karipooru. He cultivates crops both in owned
and leased lands. An outstanding farmer. He owns a shop in Nedumancaud town where he
IMFFI Semi-Structured Interview Survey - 38 of 66