Hamirpur (HP), June 22:The Department of Agriculture has warned the farmers of the district about the ‘fall army worm’ seen in the maize crops during the ongoing Kharif season.
Maize and Paddy are mainly sown during the kharif season and Fall armyworm harms the cause of Maize almost every year.The Officials of the department on Thursday said this pest had caused a lot of damage to the maize crop last year.He said this insect is more active when the heat is high. That’s why the farmers of the district should be careful about this pest this year also.“This insect attacks the crop in lakhs and destroys it completely”, he added.Agriculture officials have advised the farmers to keep a close watch on their fields and immediately contact the departmental officials in case of fall armyworm symptoms.Giving information about the measures to prevent fall armyworm, the agriculture officials said the extract of neem seed kernel proves to be very effective for this.
Farmers make powder by grinding about one kilogram of its seeds and soaking it in 5 liters of water overnight. Filter it with cotton cloth in the morning, make a solution in 20 to 25 liters of water and sprinkle it on the maize crop.He advised the farmers that the use of fire weapons is very effective for protection from sap-sucking insects and small caterpillars. To make this, boil one kilogram of crushed neem leaves, 100 grams of tobacco powder, 100 grams of hot green chilli sauce, 100 grams of desi garlic chutney, etc. in 5 liters of desi cow’s urine on a low flame. Keep this mixture for 48 hours. Keep stirring this solution twice in the morning and evening with a wooden stick. Mix this solution in 30 to 40 liters of water and spray it per bigha. In the event of rain, soapy water can be added to the above solution, so that the solution remains sticky on the leaves.Apart from this, mix 8 kilograms of sand, one kilogram of ash and one kilogram of lime well and sift it in the maize field in the evening or before it rains in such a way that the mixture falls on the upper part of maize i.e. cabbage. This will rub the insect’s skin and it will come out and run away. Agriculture officials have advised farmers to repeat these rescue procedures at an interval of eight to ten days.(UNI)