Adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) in chilli (Capsicum Annuum L.): A case study in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh.

ABSTRACT

An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project was implemented in Guntur district during the cropping season 2006-07 in six villages of Guntur district. Survey was conducted in six project villages and all the 150 participating chilli farmers in Crop Life India (CLI) sponsored IPM project were taken as sample for the study. In case of sucking pests, 56 per cent expressed mites as the important, in fruit bores, great majority (83.33%) expressed Spodoptera litura and in diseases, 56 per cent opined dieback as the major problem. More than two thirds of the respondents adopted all the components of IPM with exception of bio agents where in the adoption is only 46 per cent. With regard to diseases, 56 per cent felt dieback as the major problem while the rest felt leaf spot was the major disease. In case of border crops, trap crops, scouting techniques and mechanical control measures, more than 80 per cent adoption was observed. All the respondents are following 10-15 days pre-harvest interval of pesticide application as a measure for quality product and better price. The problems of post harvest pest and diseases was not observed in case of properly dried condition.