Insecticide Usage Pattern and Knowledge Level of Farmers on Insecticides Handling to Manage Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee in Brinjal Across Different Localities

Abstract

A detailed survey was carried out to record the insecticide usage pattern in brinjal and knowledge level of farmers on insecticides handling to control brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis from brinjal growing farmers of Shivamogga (Karnataka), Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Tirupati and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), Pune (Maharashtra) and Gadwal (Telangana) Districts of India during 2020-21. The information on insecticide usage pattern was gathered from twenty progressive farmers from each selected location using well-structured questionnaire. The data revealed that farmers used eighteen different insecticides to manage L. orbonalis in brinjal.  Among the different insecticides the highest usage of chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC (70%) was reported followed by emamectin benzoate (55%) and lambda-cyhalothrin (33.33%). The number of application of insecticides in the six locations varied from 10.8 to 22.20 per cropping season at an interval ranging from 7.0 to 12.4 days. In order to get information on insecticide recommendation, 48.33 per cent of brinjal farmers approached pesticide dealer shops and 78.33 per cent farmers did not pay attention towards label information given in pesticide containers.  In different localities, around 51.67 per cent of farmers sprayed insecticides at recommended dose and nearly 71.67 per cent of farmers did not follow any safety measures while undertaking spraying operation. In all the locations (83.33%) farmers relied only on Insecticides and only around 10.0 per cent famers followed cultural control methods for L. orbonalis control.