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INTEGRATED PESTS & DISEASE MANAGEMENT 

                Compared to the  national  level,  pests  and  disease  problems   affecting  Coconuts and intercrops are very specific.   Rodents continued to be the  major  menace followed  by  Rhinoceros beetle as far as coconut crops is  concerned.  But  since 1999-2000  year onwards, along with other coconut growing belts,  infestation  of Eryiophid mite (Coconut mite) has created havoc in this territory also.  Kalpeni and Andrott are fully affected by coconut mite,  and infestation started in Kavaratti, Kiltan, Chetlat islands also.  Thickly planted Coconut  trees  is very  congenial  for quick spreading and multiplication of these  pests.   Hence total control of these pests is very difficult, but the infestation can be minimized by way  of  control.   Scales, Whitefly, aphids,  ladybird beetle, fruit borer and fruits fly etc are the major pests affecting inter  crops.  Bud rot, stem bleeding, leaf spot, sheath rot, button-shedding  etc are diseases commonly  seen.   Bunchy top, mosaic, little leaf etc are the  common  viral diseases.  Nematodes are also common in vegetables & Banana.

         Massive rodent control campaign programmes along with placing of  anticoagulant rodenticides,  had been undertaken every year.  Due to this, the percentage of  Coconut affected which stood at 20-30 % is reduced to 5-10 %, in certain islands even less than  that.  Due  to  mechanical means  &  Baculovirus  techniques,  Rhinoceros beetles were controlled to a greater extent, i.e. reduced to 10 % from the  level of  30  %  during  1980 's.  Glue traps are mainly  used  to  control  house  rats.  Therefore in order to sustain the yield, thrust of X Five Year Plan is to keep  the pests & disease problems under economic threshold level  by adopting organic approach.

Rodent control programme will be by way of massive rodent control campaign (covering yielding trees) along with placing of anticoagulant rodenticides, pasting of ratol paste and pre-baiting followed by poison baiting etc.

Mechanical devices (Glue trap) will be used for controlling house rats.

 Control of Rhinoceros beetles will be carried out by way of Baculovirus techniques and pheromones methods.

 Neem based acaricids prepared locally will be used for the control of the coconut mites

             Against mealy bugs, scales, white fly’s etc, predators (biological means) will be introduced in collaboration with Project Directorate of Biological Control, Bangalore for controlling. The Bio control Lab, Androth will produce predators required for the territory soon

Coconut Development programme  Extensive Inter Crop Management   Human Resource Development in Agriculture  Manures & Fertilizers  Integrated Pest & Disease Management  Agricultural Engineering Services  Research & Development  Land Development & Water Conservation Management   Macro Management Mode   Agricultural Census  Extension Support to U.Ts Including Goa & Sikkim