The PAU–Farm Advisory Service Centre (FASC), Tarn Taran, conducted an awareness programme on the management of fruit fly in vegetable crops at Khawaspur village on Wednesday. The initiative aimed to educate farmers about eco-friendly strategies to combat fruit fly, a major pest affecting cucurbits and other vegetable crops during the rainy season.
Economic Impact and Preventive Measures
Dr Parvinder Singh, in-charge of FASC, highlighted the economic losses caused by fruit fly infestation in vegetable crops. He advised farmers to adopt preventive measures such as timely harvesting and proper field sanitation. He also shared tips for successful cultivation of rainy-season vegetables and emphasized the importance of balanced fertiliser application based on soil test recommendations.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Approach
Dr Parminder Kaur Sehajpal, Principal Extension Scientist (plant pathology), stressed the significance of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. She advocated the use of fruit fly traps as an eco-friendly and effective management strategy. During the programme, fruit fly traps were distributed among farmers to facilitate the effective management of fruit fly in rainy-season cucurbit crops.
