ZCZC
BSS-03
LITCHI-PEST-CONTROL (with picture)
FRS attains success to control fruit borer pest in litchi
RAJSHAHI, June 8, 2019 (BSS)- Fruit Research Station (FRS) in Rajshahi has
attained success towards controlling fruit borer pest in litchi creating
massive hope among the farmers in terms of producing safe litchi in the
region.
The success has been achieved after conducting a two-year intensive
research related to controlling the pest through using and applying only bio-
rational pest management technologies instead of any chemical pesticides.
“We are now capable of managing the pest through applying bio-rational
based pest management method,” said Dr Murshedul Bari, Scientific Officer of
FRS.
FRS, a state-owned entity of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute
(BARI), has started disseminating and reaching the technology to the farmers’
level experimentally.
Dr Bari, who conducted the research, added that there are Conopomorpha
sinensis species microscopic pest in litchi tree and its infestation is more
in Bombay litchi variety.
The pest is the major enemy and the threat as well to the litchi yield
affecting the farmers badly every year.
Quoting the research findings he says when the fruits get granule like
shape netting of entire tree is very effective as the process protects the
fruits from all the pest infestations.
Before that, the tree should be sprayed with neem oil, thereby, the fruit
borer pest could be controlled hundred percent, Dr Bari opined.
He, however, says there is no scope of any pesticide spraying on the
litchi bearing tree since before 20 days of harvesting.
“We have obtained significant result after applying the newly developed
technology in a two-bigha litchi orchard at Anupampur village under Charghat
Upazila in the district this season,” said Dr Murshedul Bari.
Talking to BSS here today owner of the orchard Sohel Rana said he has sold
litchi worth over Taka 70,000, up by Taka 30,000 than that of the previous
years.
Entomology Division of BARI has developed a number of bio-rational-based
integrated pest management technologies of litchi and has been expanding
those to farmers level through various training and motivational programmes.
Head of the division Dr Debasish Sarker says promotion of bio-rational pest
management in litchi farming can be the vital means of ensuring a sound
public health and environment as the toxic and chemical pesticides are now
being adjudged as the major threats to those.
Using chemical pesticides in farming fields is always harmful to soil and
public health, crops and environment. So, there is no way but to giving
utmost importance towards promoting bio-rational pest management widely.
Creating public awareness against the use of toxic insecticides and
pesticides has become an urgent need of overcoming the existing challenges
related to environment pollution.
Dr Debasish said litchi is one of the major cash crops in Rajshahi region
so its image must be protected through successful application of bio-rational
pest management technologies as the government has a policy of ensuring food
and nutritional security.
He urged the farmers to follow only the directives of the field level
agricultural officials and scientists instead of any insecticide dealers and
sellers during the litchi farming from its nursing to fruit harvesting for
the sake of a sound public health and environment.
BSS/SPL/AH/MR/ 1150 hrs