There is high incidence of heliothis in the crop of tur (Cajanas cajan) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). This pest creates tremendous damage by feeding on the pods and seeds of tur and balls of cotton. In the current year the farmers of Sabarkantha and Kheda have uprooted and destroyed their 3 months old crop due to the heavy infestation by the pest. Shri Laxmanbhai Radadiya of Jetpur village of Rajkot district uses bajara flour to control this pest. According to the information provided by the farmer in the 15 liters water mix half kg of the old bajara flour and then keep it in the closed container by spraying the cowdung cakes. After 20 days filterate the mixture by using the cloth. By spraying 100 grams of mixture in 15 liters of water on the crop for 2-3 days complete control over the heliothis larvae is achieved. In the previous year even by the use of chemical pesticides the control over the pest was not attained. Even shri Laljibhai Veljibhai Padhdar has obtained good results by the use of this mixture as the practice. Shri rajeshbhai Jivrajbhai Hirani of Sayala village of Surendranagar districts shares his experience and suggests that if the flour from the desi bajara is used instead of hybrid thaen it would prove to be more effective in the control of the pest. According to the information provided by Dr. K.D. Solanki and Dr. G. M. Patel of Gujarat Agricultural University the old bajari flour has many microbial activities prevailing in it. By placing this flour in the anerobic condition for 15 - 20 days there are chances of production of some alcoholic substances that may prove to be effective in the control of the heliothis larvae. In 1995-96 Jai Research Foundation provedthat the practice by SRISTI to spray the decayed old bajara flour was found to be effective to control (Spodoptera litura) at location Vapi."
Crop: Bajra, Pearl millet
Crop Family: Poaceae
Crop Scientific Name: (Pennisetum typhoides)
Crop Vernacular Name: Bajra
Formulation: In the 15 liters water mix half kg of the old bajara flour and then keep it in the closed container by spraying the cowdung cakes. After 20 days filterate the mixture by using the cloth.
Ingredients: Bajra (Pearl millet, Pennisetum typhoides) flour and cow dung
"Tribal farmers of Nandurabar district of Maharashtra use fermented pearlmillet flour to control Helicoverpa in cotton. "
http://www.cicr.org.in/PDF/itk.pdf .
Dated: 14/5/2020