Use of Pheromone Traps for Eco Friendly Management of Fruit Fly in Parwal?A Success Story

Proper and prolonged humid conditions and sandy soil due to nearby land of river Ganga in Hastinapur block of Meerut district favours the cultivation of cucurbits. Thus, growing of Parwal has been proved as a best alternate to replace mono culture of sugarcane crop in the area where majority of farmers having small land holdings. Fruit fly is a serious pest not only of cucurbits but other vegetable and fruit crops also causing huge losses to farmers in Meerut district. In spite of using hazardous pesticides, farmers are bound to bear about 25 ? 30 % yield loss every year due to the attack of fruit fly. Various front line demonstrations of cue lure containing pheromone traps were laid out by KVK Hastinapur, Meerut at the fields of parwal growers of the area during three consecutive years (2012 ? 2014) to introduce and promote the ecofriendly management technology of fruit flies by installation of 5 traps/ acre covering 30 acre area. The technology was found feasible, cheaper as well as easy to adopt at farmer’s field. An average of 23.35 per cent increased yield was observed resulting Rs. 27182.5 average increased income per hectare comparing with plots under farmer’s practice where traps were not installed.