MANAGING INSECT PESTS & DISEASES OF CITRUS: ON FARM ANALYSIS FROM PAKISTAN

Abstract

Population pressure is increasing demanding more food for sustainable future but competition for key resources is high due to prevalence of insect pests and diseases. Numerous losses have been recorded due to diseases infestation in Pakistan particularly in case of citrus. On farm technicalities are increasing while farmers’ technical knowledge is stagnant making insect pests and diseases pathogens resistant. Citrus is leading fruit and its better productivity is vital for the farmers and national economy but per acre production is lower that potential. Insect pests and diseases role is counted as significant in lowering the production. Therefore presents study was undertaken to explore growers concerns. 120 respondents were selected using probability sampling technique under survey based research design. Findings indicated that growers were more familiar to insects/pests attack than diseases infestation. The adoption of cultural and mechanical control was found more prominent method to manage diseases impacts. Lack of technical knowledge, Finance shortage, and high cost of inputs were the major adoption militating factors among growers. Micro credit schemes should be started by the public sector to alleviate the finance problem and trainings should be imparted by the pathology and entomology experts along with extension agents to adopt alternate way to manage the viral diseases.