Venturing into the cotton fields of Khiali Chehlanwali, Sahnewali, Burj Bhlaike, Jherianwali and Tandian villages in Mansa district and Talwandi Sabo, Behman Kaur Singh, Malkana, Singo and Kaur Singh Wala villages in Bathinda district, Dr Gosal expressed concern over the prevailing threat of the pink bollworm.
“This formidable pest, known to thrive in cotton crop of the North India poses a significant risk to the region’s farmers,” he said. Providing an update on the cotton crop, Dr Dhatt conveyed an optimistic outlook, but not without caution.
Addressing farmers, he emphasised the need for vigilance and immediate action upon spotting the pink bollworm. His recommendation entailed promptly spraying the crop with insecticides that align with established guidelines.
Elaborating on effective management strategies, Dr Vijay Kumar stressed on the importance of inspecting flowers and cotton bolls for signs of the pink bollworm. To carry out this crucial task, he advised farmers to examine a minimum of 100 flowers from various locations, paying particular attention to rosette flowers.
If the presence of the pink bollworm was detected, spraying the crop with 100 g of emamectin benzoate 5SG (Proclaim), 500 ml of profenophos 50EC (Curacron), 200 ml of indoxacarb 14.5SC (Avaunt) or 250 gram of thiodicarb 75WP (Larvin) per acre was deemed essential to combat the infestation.