Participatory Assessment of Biorational Module for Pod Borer Management in Chickpea Ecosystem

Pod bPod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) is a major pest of chickpea crop that causes huge economic loss to the farmers every year. Increasing concern for environmental awareness on use of chemical insecticide has generated interest in environmentally safe alternative for management of this pest. Participatory assessment of biorational module was carried out in Bundelkhand region of UP state, India with participation of 300 partner farmers. The participatory trials were conducted during 2010-11 to 2012-13 in 60 ha area. The biorational module that included pheromone trap + Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE) + Helicoverpa armigera Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (HaNPV) + spinosad 45SC, was found to have lowest percent pod damage and highest yield (8.4% and 1525 kg/ha) as compared to control plots (20.4% and 874 kg/ha). The application of biorational module resulted in higher average gross returns (Rs 39,425 / ha) as compared to control (Rs 22,886/ha). The overall knowledge and technology gap among partner farmer with regard to pod borer management before interventions was observed to be as high as 86 and 85.5 percent, respectively. The participatory trials (300) and related extension activities (15 nos) led to overall gain in knowledge score of partner farmers by 22.19 points against 58 maximum obtainable score on pod borer management with biorational module. orer (Helicoverpa armigera) is a major pest of chickpea crop that causes huge economic loss to the farmers every year. Increasing concern for environmental awareness on use of chemical insecticide has generated interest in environmentally safe alternative for management of this pest. Participatory assessment of biorational module was carried out in Bundelkhand region of UP state, India with participation of 300 partner farmers. The participatory trials were conducted during 2010-11 to 2012-13 in 60 ha area. The biorational module that included pheromone trap + Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE) + Helicoverpa armigera Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (HaNPV) + spinosad 45SC, was found to have lowest percent pod damage and highest yield (8.4% and 1525 kg/ha) as compared to control plots (20.4% and 874 kg/ha). The application of biorational module resulted in higher average gross returns (Rs 39,425 / ha) as compared to control (Rs 22,886/ha). The overall knowledge and technology gap among partner farmer with regard to pod borer management before interventions was observed to be as high as 86 and 85.5 percent, respectively. The participatory trials (300) and related extension activities (15 nos) led to overall gain in knowledge score of partner farmers by 22.19 points against 58 maximum obtainable score on pod borer management with biorational module.