Shimla, July 19
Maize cultivators in Solan district are currently facing significant challenges due to an infestation of Fall Army Worms. These pests are adversely affecting the growth of maize plants, leading to their gradual death and potentially resulting in substantial financial losses for the farmers.
In Solan, maize is grown across approximately 23,500 hectares, yielding around 58,750 metric tons annually. However, the recent pest problem has caused considerable concern among local farmers.
Seema Kansal, the officiating Deputy Director of Agriculture in Solan, explained that the overuse of nitrogen fertilizers has weakened the plants’ resistance to diseases and pests. As a result, various types of diseases and pests, including the Fall Army Worm, have begun to harm the crops. Currently, around 4,750 hectares of maize have been affected, with 10 to 15 percent of plants showing local infestations.
Kansal advised farmers to regularly monitor their crops for signs of Fall Army Worm infestations. If more than 5 percent of the plants are affected, immediate action is recommended. Farmers should first cover the top leaves and middle ring of the affected plants with a mix of soil, sand, and ash, and water it if rain does not follow. This method helps to kill the caterpillars.
Additionally, farmers are encouraged to use light and pheromone traps in their fields, and to apply organic pesticides such as BT (2 grams per liter of water), neem-based solutions (2 ml per liter of water), or fungus-based pesticides like Metarhizium (5 grams per liter of water). Introducing laboratory-produced parasitic eggs, such as those of Trichogramma, Cotesia, or Telenomus, can also help control the pest population.
If these measures prove ineffective, chemical treatments may be necessary. Options include spinosad (0.3 ml per liter of water), chlorantraniliprole (0.3 ml per liter of water), abamectin benzoate (0.4 grams per liter of water), thiodicarb (2 grams per liter of water), flubendamide (0.3 ml per liter of water), or thiamethoxam-lambda cyhalothrin (0.25 ml per liter of water). These chemicals should be applied to the uppermost leaves and middle ring of the infested plants.
Kansal also advised that the remains of affected plants should be removed from the field to prevent harm to subsequent crops. He suggested planting pulses such as urad or lobia alongside maize next year, as these can help reduce pest infestations and provide nitrogen to the soil. Furthermore, planting 3-4 lines of Napier grass around the maize crop as a trap crop, ten days before the main planting, can help capture and eliminate the Fall Army Worms before they spread.
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