ITK adoption pattern of organic farming in Tamil Nadu for the management of shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee in brinjal crop

Abstract

Brinjal, Solanum melongena L, is a commercial grown vegetable crop cultivated by the farmers since several years.  Farmers relay mainly on pesticides for the management of L. orbonalis, one of the major destructive pest of brinjal. The awareness among the farmers is increasing day by day for organic farming and organic produce, the area under organic farming is in expanding stage in different state in India. The present study was taken to document and to understand the ITK practices of farmers growing organic brinjal in different districts in Tamil Nadu. Majority of the farmers 65.42 per cent who are practicing farmers are medium category land holding of 2 to 10 hectare and 86.70 per cent of farmers interview depend organic agriculture as main source of Income.  Use of 14 different soil amendments/ foliar spray to meet out the nutrient requirement of the organic brinjal crop. The cow based ITK product Panchagavya is a major source of nutrient substitute used by 73 percent of the farmers. They use around 14 different ITK concoctions in rotation for the management of L. orbonalis. Most commonly used ITK concoctions were Meenamilam (10 ml /lit),Neem oil (2ml/ lit), Ginger-Garlic extracts (5ml/ lit), Ten leaf extract (16.4%) moor karaisal (100ml/ lit) pungam oil (30ml/lit), tobacco leaf extract (30ml / lit) Agniasthiram (30ml/ lit) and Neemastram (25ml/ lit). A Meenamilam ITK concoctions used by 75 per cent of the farmers across the Tamil Nadu.   The present study indicates availability of an array of ITK concoctions used by the organic farmers for the management of L. orbonalis in brinjal. The information generated in the present study will be useful in designing organic IPM module for the pest management in brinjal and organic vegetable cultivation in general.