With restricted alternative of pesticides, tea growers are unable to realize efficient management of tea mosquito bug. Representational picture
| Photo Credit: Okay.Okay. MUSTAFAH
The tea mosquito bug is affecting tea manufacturing in each high and low elevation plantations, the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) stated.
UPASI president Jeffry Rebello stated in a press launch that the bug, which was earlier confined to low elevation areas, had unfold to plantations in excessive elevation areas within the north and southern States.
“As the bug is spreading rapidly, it may result in heavy crop loss in all the tea districts of South India,” he stated.
The affected tea estates are spending greater than ₹12,000 per hectare on pesticide software yearly. But the management is poor as a consequence of lack of efficient molecules obtainable to regulate the pest. Several pesticides had been faraway from the authorised checklist of Plant Protection Code (PPC) of the Tea Board of India to make Indian teas free from dangerous pesticides.
In the present PPC model, solely seven pesticides are authorised to be used in south India. With restricted alternative of pesticides, tea growers are unable to realize efficient management of tea mosquito bug.
Mr. Rebello stated the entomologists of UPASI Tea Research Foundation had been evaluating the pesticides obtainable within the Indian market and authorised by the Central Insecticide Board & Registration Committee in different crops cultivated in India. These pesticides are additionally authorised to be used by the European Union and have minimal residue ranges for tea. The affiliation has sought authorities approval for the usage of these chemical compounds in tea plantations.
“Approval and extension of label claim for some effective molecules has to be considered immediately.” Further, nationwide institutes similar to National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources and Indian Institute of Horticultural Research ought to work collectively to handle the pest situation confronted by the tea trade, he stated.
