Serious crisis:Crisis on chilli crop in Andhra-Telangana due to thrips pest

  • It is estimated that farmers will lose about 3 thousand crore rupees
  • The crisis was exacerbated by the ban on pesticides controlling thrips

    Chilli growers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are facing a serious crisis due to thrips. Thrips outbreaks have been reported in an estimated 5 million acres this season. The area produces approximately 6 quintals of chillies per acre and sells for about Rs. 10,000 per quintal. This means that farmers have lost Rs 60,000 per acre. According to 5 lakh acres, farmers are estimated to lose about 3 thousand crore rupees.

    Mannempalli Narasimha Rao, a farmer from Kothapalam village in Guntur district, says he planted chillies in 4.5 acres, which have been destroyed by crop thrips. Gautam Srinivasa Rao, a farmer from Karucholu village, also said that the western flower black thrips had caused extensive damage to chilli and other crops in the area.

    The government has banned effective pesticides such as DDVP, which has increased the incidence of pests like thrips. Thousands of farmers in both the states have been affected by the pestilence and are demanding relief from the government.

    According to Bhagirath Chaudhary, Director , Thrips South Asia Biotechnology Center, thrips is a species of insect that grows very fast as the male and female genitalia are in the same insect. It can wreak havoc if left unchecked. An integrated plan for pest control should be worked out.

    Problems with banning pesticides without effective alternatives increase

    Thrips is a species of insect in which the number of male and female genitalia increases rapidly as they are in the same insect.
    Thrips is a species of insect in which the number of male and female genitalia increases rapidly as they are in the same insect.

    Farmers say that pesticides like Fosellon and DDVP, which are effective against germs like chilli thrips, cotton pink ballworm and BPH in rice, have disappeared from the market or have been banned by the government. Both of these help control the germs and improve the crop. However, there is no other drug that is as effective as this one. These products are banned simply because they are banned in other countries, but their effectiveness is not taken into account in the case of India. Not only that, farmers’ suggestions were not taken into account before they were removed from the market. Farmers have been using these pesticides for the last two-three decades.

    According to agronomists, it is also important to consider the role of different modes of action when reviewing the use of agrochemicals. Restricting the agrochemicals of the organo-phosphorus group will affect the germ control strategy. India should review pesticides on the basis of the usefulness of its small farmers and its agro-environmental statistics, not on the basis of Europe or other cold countries. Improper use, overuse or improper use of pesticides for a particular species develops resistance to that pest in that species. Often the process of finding and producing new seeds is expensive. That is why existing pesticides should be used properly. Restricting such effective use without in-depth study could have serious implications for crops as well as farmers’ livelihoods.