Farmers cultivating red gram crop advised to use drones for pest control

With farmers facing difficulties in spraying pesticides on the well-grown red gram crop in Musiri block in the district, thanks to good monsoon rain, the Agriculture department has advised them to use drones to protect their crop from pests

With farmers facing difficulties in spraying pesticides on the well-grown red gram crop in Musiri block in the district, thanks to good monsoon rain, the Agriculture department has advised them to use drones to protect their crop from pests.

Red gram is a major pulse grown in the rain-fed areas of Musiri block in Tiruchi district. According to estimates by the Agriculture department, the crop has been raised on 400 hectares in Thiruthiamalai, Thinnakonam, Muvanur, Pulivalam, Manpparai and Kattukulam villages.

The crop’s growth is usually “indeterminate.” They will have numerous bushy branches. The standing crop this season has exhibited very good vegetative growth because of good rains last year, an official of the department said.

However, this posed a challenge to farmers as it was difficult to enter the fields and carry out manual spraying of pesticides, which was essential to control the pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera), a common pest that attacks the crop, particularly during flowering and pod formation stages. The pest attack, if unchecked could, cause aggravate yield loss.

To overcome the situation, officials in Musiri have advised farmers to spray pesticide using drones. A field demonstration was organised by the department at the field of Thangavelu, a farmer of Thinnakonnam village, where the crop is in flowering stage. “Using the drone, a pesticide, chlorantraniliprole, was successfully sprayed on the field to control the pest,” said an official of the department.

Mr. Thangavelu too expressed relief and happiness over the outcome as spraying pesticide was almost impossible using manual labour.

“Many red gram farmers do not know how to tackle the situation. The use of drones for the purpose is efficient and cost-effective. We have advised farmers to make use of the services of the agripreneurs who carry out the task. Farmers who wish to make use of the technology can contact the block-level officials, who will guide them,” said the official.