Knowledge of Farmers, Constraints Faced and Suggestions Offered on Integrated Management of Pink Bollworm in Cotton: A Case of Saurashtra Region, Gujarat

Abstract

The present study was conducted on 200 cotton growers of Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts to evaluate for knowledge of farmers about integrated management of pink bollworm in cotton. The respondents were middle age group (57%), educate higher secondary level, big farmers having nuclear family, main occupation was agriculture and animal husbandry. Krishi Vigyan Kendra or University level information for organic farming, printed literature and demonstration with 85.25, 37.08 and 22.71 weightage mean, respectively. They received guideline from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (53.33%) followed by Agricultural University (43.33%) and seed/pesticide dealer (30.83%). The knowledge about integrated management of pink boll worm were Grazing sheep & goat after harvest the crop (72.25%), Cotton stalk should be burned after picking (68%), Spraying of Beauveria bassiana (65.5%) and spinosad (62%), use of light trap (61%) and collection of infested flowers/ bolls and destroyed it (59.5%). Very rare farmers have knowledge on life cycle of pink bollworm (8.5%) and deep ploughing for management (6%). High cost of pesticide (96%), fragmented holding (90.5%) and heavy attack of pink bollworm (86.5%) are major constraints faced by the cotton growers. Genetic resistant variety (82%), Install pheromone & light trap near ginneries, market yard for mass trapping are the major suggestions for overcome the pink boll worm problem.