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

Cultivation of hybrid bitter gourd creates marketing problem, as demand in the nearby
local market is less due to bigger in size. Middleman do not prefer hybrid for
transportation to other states.
MAJOR PEST PROBLEMS IN BITTER GOURD Semi-looper, locally known as Ghoda Poko (larva
moves like a horse=Ghoda), is the main problem in bitter gourd crop, which destroys
the entire plants, as a result plants die. Other insects like fruit fly & epilachna
beetle cause less damage to bitter gourd crop. Semilooper became problem since last 6
to 7 years and cannot be controlled by spraying of any pesticides. Among diseases,
leaf blight (burning of leaves) is main problem. This year fruiting period in case of
bitter gourd crop was very short i.e. only from mid December to mid February due to
crop damage by leaf blight. This year in case of bitter gourd crop, semi-looper
(ghoda poko) caused serious damage as a result, the plant became severely defoliated
& fruiting period shortened for which yield per acre became very reduced compared to
the previous year.
MAJOR PEST PROBLEMS IN CUCUMBER In cucumber crop, leaf blight, yellow mosaic virus
diseases are the main problem. In cucumber Epilachna beetle and leaf blight cause
damage.
MAJOR PEST PROBLEMS IN RIDGE GOURD In ridge gourd crop, epilachna beetle, which he
calls Haldia Poko (turmeric=Haldia=yellow), is the main problem. Epilachna Beetle
causes damage to bitter gourd and ridge gourd since last 5 to 6 years & by now it is
a main problem for ridge gourd crop. Epilachna beetle and mites are the main problems
in Ridge gourd. Blight also causes loss in this crop (ridge gourd).
DISEASE Leaf blight disease causes a main problem for bitter gourd, cucumber & ridge
gourd crop as a result plants wither & fruiting does not occur. Blight disease became
a problem since last 10 years.
FRUIT FLY PROBLEMS IN BITTER GOURD, RIDGE GOURD & CUCUMBER He thinks Bitter gourd,
Cucumber & Ridge gourd are the host crop of fruit fly. He cultivates fruit fly host
crops because they fetch more profit compared to other crops per unit area.
Intercultural operations are in these crops are also easy. The strong reason is good
marketing facility. Farmer was not aware about fruit fly. He comes to know about the
fly only after interaction with team. When explained he immediately identifies the
nature of damage of fly. He said that this pest (fly) causes damage to the crop to
very less extent (he assumes). Farmer is not aware about the damage of fruit fly in
ridge gourd. After knowing the damage by the fruit fly he explains that a foul smell
comes out of fruit as a result, fruits are not used for consumption purpose. Farmer
was not aware about the fruit fly (but damage ) & for first time he has seen this
pest in his bitter gourd crop. It differs from other pest in the sense that its
larvae seen white in colour and inside the fruit the flesh is rotten with a foul
smell. Fruit fly are not so bad in the sense that its extent of damage to the bitter
gourd crop is very less i.e. 5 to 6% only. Fruit Flies cause 2 to 3, 5 and 4 to 5 %
damage to Bitter gourd, Ridge gourd and Cucumber, respectively.
ONSET OF FRUIT FLY ATTACK In case of bitter gourd crop, fruit fly attack develops
during the last part of the cropping season i.e. in the month of March. It happens in
the month of March because of rise in temperature. By his average knowledge, fruit
fly infestation is not same in every year.
PESTICIDE USE He sprays pesticides like Dimethoate ("Roger") & Endosulfan at weekly
interval in bitter gourd crop for the last 5 years. He came to know about pesticide
application after coming in the contact pesticide with shop keeper 5 years back.
Spraying of pesticides like endosulfan, monocrotophos does not has much impact for
controlling the semi-looper pest. Though leaf blight was a problem for this year in
case of bitter gourd crop, spraying of Mancozeb controlled the disease. This pest
(fruit fly) was not controlled by spraying of any pesticides at all (sprayed for
IMFFI Semi-Structured Interview Survey - 42 of 66