CSA scientists develop insect monitoring traps to control pest population

Kanpur: Scientists of Chandra Shekhar Azad (CSA) Agricultural University have come up with insect monitoring traps that can control the pest population in a farm. Pests damage crops and thereby affect productivity of crops, including pulses, vegetables and fruits. The trap was displayed at the three-day Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Mela which began in the university on Wednesday.
Insect traps, use pheromone lures (attractants) and other trap kits for monitoring pests. Dr RK Pal, agricultural scientist at CSA university, said that every trap is insect specific. “For monitoring purpose, we install 5 trap/hectare, while for controlling pest population 15 traps/hectare are installed in a farm. The traps are very effective for pest controlling. They are available for about Rs. 30 per lure depending on the type of insects,” he said.
Dr Neerja Agrawal, head, department of entomology, said that fruit fly, one of the major concerns in the crop production, lays eggs under the skin of cucurbits like cucumber, pumpkin, calabash etc, thereby distorting the fruit. “The fly multiplies inside the fruit, while the fruit appears to be fine from outside. It damages the crop. The fruit fly trap with a hormonal lure attracts the insect, thus controlling its population. A project was run successfully in the university to monitor different fruit fly species in central UP,” she said.
Meanwhile, the first day of the fair saw a huge rush of around 25,000 farmers, who came from different districts of the state. They were seen purchasing high-yielding variety of seeds organically prepared by scientists at the Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR). The seeds were available at relatively low cost when compared from the market. Farmers also learnt the working of latest technology of agricultural equipment like peanut separator, garlic plotter etc which are time saving instruments. Heavy rush was seen on the stalls selling organic fertilizers. Farmers were also told about the proper use of fertilizers. Agriculture minister Rajiv Kumar Singh, who inaugurated the event, stressed on the need to increase food production in view of increasing population of the country. The minister also released different publications like Kisan Diary, CSA Newsletter, production technology of oilseed crops etc. Munna Singh, vice-chancellor of CSA university said that the university had already sold seeds worth Rs 1 crore even before the fair began. The fair will end on October 31.