Agro Met Field Unit ICAR, Jharnapani. Medziphema Advisories Vegetables: To control fruit borer in tomato, shoot and fruit borer in brinjal establish pheromone trap to prey moth @ 12 nos, per acre or collect infested fruits and shoots and bury it in the soil are advised. For flies, leaf hopper and other small flies, any neem based insecticide available in the market@ 5-8 ml per liter of water is to be done. For fruit fly poison bait can be prepared with jaggery and Rogor kept in plastic bowls in cucurbits fields. For cucurbits, after germination if there is attack of Red Pumpkin beetle, control the insect with the dusting of mixture of kerosene oil + ash in adequate proportion. Fruit trees: For the control of insects/termites in fruit trees, paint the main trunk upto 2 metre height from the ground level with lime or enfold plastic sheets around trunk to prevent climbing of young (nymphs) mealy bugs. Also, apply grease to seal any cracks in the polythene sheets. At flowering stage do not spray insecticides Use quality and certified seeds for all crops. Success in raising healthy seedlings depends to a larger extent on the quality of seeds. Before sowing, seed should be treated with biological control agent formulations which protects the seed against soil-born fungi and also give a boost to the seedlings Pit for plantation of fruit crops and agro forestry should be completed by April. Expose the pit to sunlight to kill the microbial infection as well as soil borne pests for 15-20 days. Then fill the pit with top 50cm soil with 1 kg lime, 15-20 kg well decomposed FYM. Put a bamboo peg to remind the place of the pit. Let the pit be exposed to 3-4 rain showers before planting. Livestock • To prevent cattle from Foot and Mouth Disease, plague and BQ, farmers are advice to vaccinate this disease vaccine to their cattle with the consultant of veterinary doctor. • During this season, avoid overcrowding of birds; water intake should be increased as even a slight shortfall of water can lead to heat stroke and mortality; shifting, transportation, de-beaking and vaccination should be done during night or cool hours of the day. • Increasing temperature with increasing humidity may cause discomfort to the cattle. Feed or graze during cooler hours, feed fresh green fodder, protein and mineral supplements feed under shade between morning and afternoon milking.
