Agricultural scientists have suggested several remedies, including organic pesticides, against a thrips attack on mango trees of Muthalamada, the mango city of Kerala. Muthalamada is facing a devastation from the thrips infestation, especially when the mango orchards flowered in January.
C.A. Jayaprakash, entomology principal scientist at ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Thiruvananthapuram, suggested that Nanma, one of the three hugely popular biopesticides developed by the CTCRI, could be effective against the thrips attack at Muthalamada.
Dr. Jayaprakash is planning a collaborative venture with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Thrissur, to address the thrips infestation at Muthalamada. “Our biopesticide Nanma has been found very effective against thrips. We have successfully applied it at several places, including Andhra Pradesh,” said Dr. Jayaprakash.
