SKUAST-Jammu Warns Farmers Against Fall Armyworm Attack; Issues Fresh Guidelines

The Division of Entomology, SKUAST-Jammu has urged the field functionaries of the Agricultural Production Department (APD) and Farming communities to forecast the pest incidence and damage caused by this pest in light of the serious attack of the fall armyworm in the districts of Rajouri, Udhampur, Jammu, Reasi, and parts of Kathua.

The following precautionary actions must be taken if the farmer’s field has shown signs of the FAW pest occurrence.

“Even if the infestation is not observed preventive measures with botanical and microbial pesticides should be started with eco-friendly practices like using a 5 percent Neem Seed Kernel Emulsion (NSKE) or Azadirachtin 1500 ppm at 5 ml/lt of water or Bacillus thuringiensis variety kurstaki commercial formulations at 2 gm/lt water or Entomopathogenic fungi like Metarhizium anisopliae (1 x 108 cfu/gm) at 5 gm/lt "t water”, he added.

If there is significant damage, application of chemical pesticides such as Spinetoram (11.7 percent SC @ 0.5 ml/l of water), Chlorantraniliprole (Koragen) (18.5 percent SC @ 0.4 ml/l of water), Thiamethoxam (12.6 percent + Lambda cyhalothrin (9.5 percent ZC @ 0.25 ml/l of water), Spinosad (45 SC @ 0.5 ml/l of water)

A guideline had been issued to help farmers to identify the pest and its nature of damage.

The pest appears in shades of green, olive, tan, and grey with three lines of creamy yellow down its back and four black dots on each abdominal segment.

Additionally, it was emphasized to the farmers that they should use genuine pesticides rather than inferior ones (Standard Company products). When employing insecticides, appropriate safety precautions should be taken, such as wearing gloves and masks when preparing and applying chemical spray; they must adhere to use recommended dosage of insecticides and select right type of hollow cone nozzle and proper volume of water (32 litre per kanal)," he added.

Farmers can contact specialists through the Kisan Call Centre of SKUAST Jammu by calling their toll-free number if they have any query (1800-180-7196).