Management of invasive pest, rugose spiralling whitefly in oil palm and its economic impact

Abstract

The KVK, Bhadradri Kothagudem conducted front line demonstration during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 in KVK operational area of adopted villages on “Demonstration on Management of Rugose spiraling whitefly in Oil palm”. Demonstrations were conducted in ten different farmers fields to assess the damage potential and its management strategies. Two treatments viz., technology demonstration i.e Installation of yellow sticky traps. Starch powder @ 10 g/l to remove sooty mold. Azadirachtin 10000 PPM @ 1 ml/l + detergent powder @ 10 g/l two to three sprays at 20 days interval. Release of parasitoids, Encarsia guadeloupae and foliar application of Isaria fumosorosea @ 1x 108 (5 g/l) along with sticker 2 ml/l with intermittent water spray and check (farmers practice) i.e., Spraying of acetamipride @ 0.2 g/l after noticing the infestation of white fly. Significantly higher income was recorded from the technology demonstrated plot over the three years compared to control plot. On an average, the benefit cost ratio was high in treatment i.e., 2.90:1, 3.10:1 and 3.15:1 compared to control plot i.e., 2.66: 1, 2.54:1 and 2.88:1 during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively.