Vol. 12, Issue 5 (2023)

Author(s):
AD Pawar, BV Deore, CS Patil, SB Deore and YS Saindane

Abstract:
Investigation was undertaken at Department of Agricultural Entomology, Post Graduate Institute, MPKV, Rahuri during 2021-2022 to study the insecticide usage pattern of sweet orange growers in Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Aurangabad and Jalna districts of Maharashtra. The selected farmers were interviewed based on the questionnaire prepared to assess their general awareness on insecticide use, doses of application and frequency of application. Survey results indicated that farmers relied mostly on chemical insecticides to control the pest of sweet orange. The insecticides viz., chlorpyriphos, quinalphos, profenophos, cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, fenpropathrin and bifenthrin were the most widely used by the farmers for insect control. It was also observed that the majority of the growers from all four district followed routine or calendar spraying pattern. Majority of the farmers did sprayings at an interval of 15 to 30 days giving maximum 5 to 10 sprays. Most of the sweet orange farmers contacted pesticide retailers for recommendations. Very few farmers knew about the recommended insecticides and their doses, pesticide residues and related issues.