ALAPPUZHA: The agriculture department has prepared a Rs 12.55-crore project to help Kuttanad paddy farmers to fight pest attacks double increase production in five years after brown planthopper attack left acres crops damaged in October. Principal agricultural officer A.G. Abdul Kareem said the primary objective of the project under the Harithakeralam in 32 of Alappuzha, 27 of Kottayam and five panchayats of Pathanamthitta district, was "to keep them informed of pest management and nurturing eco-friendly master farmers."
"It will help in the efforts control brown plant hopper and black bug and weeds, besides coordinating the geographical indication registry for Kuttanad rice and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification," he said. "It will be mainly focusing on rooting out banned pesticides from the fields and promoting indigenous and innovative techniques." The pest surveillance has become an uphill task for officials here with their population proliferates fast causing massive losses.
Scientists at Rice Research Station (RRS) blame it on the climate change. The brown planthopper, a minor pest, now multiplies at an alarming rate in areas like Champakulam and Nedumudi damaging thousands of acres of ripe paddy crops. Kuttanad has got no rain so far this season. However, there are many days with damp atmosphere, helping pests multiply mainly in high-density cultivation.
He believes the project will be helpful to keep farmers away toxic pesticides and fight climate change. "With a daily monitoring system, farmers can easily be aware of it," he said. "For pest management, it will introduce different methods including demonstration plots, campaigning, community radio, automation in spraying operations, the popularisation of seed drum, production of bio pesticides, bio fertilisers and biocontrol agents, trico cards, drones and light traps," added Mr Kareem.
