Herbal Remedies For Crop Pests
About the Practice
Leaves of Custard apple (Annaona squomosa) - 1 kg Turmeric rhizome - 1 kg Peenari changu (Clerodendrum inermi) - 1 kg. Chothukatralai (Aloe vera) - 1 kg. Nochi (Vitex negundo) - 1 kg Neem Kernel (Azadirachta indica) - 1 kg Calortropis - 1 kg. The above products are ground into a paste by adding sufficient water and about 5 liters of juice is extracted. This is diluted with another 15 liters of water to make 20 liters finally. This herbal extract is administered into the crown region of the plants at the rate of 2 liters per palm after the harvest of nuts. This is repeated once in two months i.e. during harvesting time. He charges Rs.10/- per coconut tree for performing this treatment. He has 2 daughters (13 years and 9 years) and a wife, all of whom are involved in preparing both herbal pesticide as well as Panchagavya. His daughters, though they are studying, help out in the preparation during leisure time. However, his wife is fully engaged in the collection of herbal ingredients and preparation. They now stay in a rented house. He is looking to leasing this house on a long-term basis which is crucial for the large scale production of herbal pesticide. He covers about 100-150 acres per month during peak season (Oct.-Dec.) His health has recovered considerably after taking to herbal pesticide; his appetite has also improved. The paddy grains produced through spraying with herbal pesticide are hard and of improved weight. The quality of food is also improving says Mr. Chellamuthu. Sri. Chellamuthu is 36 years and lives in Karukkampalayam village. He was in possession of some land earlier on but due to family problems and the break up of the land, he was rendered landless. Since then he has been involved in spraying pesticides on daily-wage basis. This area is known for intensive farming as it is situated in the Bhavani river bed area and also open wells and farmers grow crops like turmeric, onion and sugarcane, coconut, jasmine. So there is always good demand especially during Oct.- Dec. for spraying chemical pesticides. Realizing the need for herbal pesticide Over a decade he has been involved in spraying chemical pesticide using a power sprayer. One day, after having sprayed chemical pesticides, he developed bouts of headache and vomiting. He was admitted to a nearby hospital in Kodumudi town run by Dr. Natarajan, a civil surgeon. After treating the patient, the physician has advised Mr. Chellamuthu to try a herbal formula which he heard about from an NGO called "Nature Trust" in Pudukottai. This NGO has been advising farmers to undertake organic practices including the spraying of herbal pesticide. Mr.Chellamuthu immediately accepted that idea and started preparing herbal formulations as advised by Dr.Natarajan. Ingredients for the herbal pesticide The original formula was as follows: Nochi (Vitex negunda), Peenari changu (Clerodendrum inerme), Chothukathalai (Aloe vera), Neem seeds each one kilo. All are to be ground well by adding little water and then diluted in 100 liters of water for spraying one acre.(However he has standardised the preparation by adding the right dose of ingredients. He puts half a litre of the herbal mixture in a spray tank and fills it up with water.) He wanted to test this spray mixture. No farmer was interested to try this formula. However he went to his uncles field along with the sprayer and herbal pesticide and sprayed it on the turmeric in 30cents without the knowledge of his uncle . He sprayed in the late evening time. After 3 days his uncle commented that his turmeric crop was doing very well. Then Mr. Chellamuthu explained that he had actually sprayed herbal pesticide on the crop. His uncle gave an order for the herbal pesticide to be sprayed on another 3 acres of his field. Later on, many farmers came forward to purchase this herbal pesticide. He needed to spray paddy only once i.e.25 -30 days after planting it took care of a range of pest and diseases. He charges Rs.20 per spray tank. (For spraying one tank he charges Rs.12 for the cost of herbal pesticide preparation and Rs.8 as rent charges for the spraying operation). The demand for herbal pesticide has been growing in 10-20 villages and in order to meet their demand he has purchased a wet grinder (power operated) for grinding the herbal ingredients. He now finds that the capacity of the wet grinder is insufficient so he has approached a nearby village and utilized their rotary extractor / machine for grinding his herbal ingredients. He pays Rs.50 per hour for grinding the herbal ingredients in the rotary machine. After the grinding, he keeps the herbal mixture over night and then goes in for spraying. He uses this mixture by keeping it upto one month from the date of preparation. He carries this herbal mixture through a plastic cane by using two-wheeler (TVS 50). He is also telling the farmers how to prepare this herbal pesticide though none of them seem interested in preparing the herbal pesticide on their own and they depend upon Chellamuthu for spraying this herbal pesticide. In addition, Chellamuthu has been engaged in preparing Panchagavya and spraying it on the crops. Preparation of Panchagavya had also been suggested by Dr. Natarajan. Now Chellamuthu has standardized the preparation techniques for Panchagavya. Farmers depend upon him for growing their crops organically by utilising the service of Mr.Chellamuthu for spraying Panchagavya and herbal pesticides. Fifteen farmers started preparing Panchagavya after seeing the results achieved by Chellamuthu. However for the spraying of herbal pesticides, they depend upon Mr.Chellamuthu. Herbal formula for the control of Eriophyid mite He developed a new formula for control of the eriophyid mite in coconut. The eriophyid mite is prevalent in most coconut- growing regions of South India. This pest has spread from Kerala to Tamil Nadu through Pollachi. Due to the incidence of the mite, the nuts shrink- so affecting their marketability. Later, the husk develops cracks and dryness is found which make the husking operation difficult. Consequently, a great loss is incurred by the coconut growers. To solve this problem Mr.K.Chellamuthu has developed a herbal formulation to prevent this mite in a natural way. He has also tested this successfully in the gardens of a few farmers (2000 trees) in his village. His treatment method is given below : Required plant products : Leaves of Custard apple (Annaona squomosa) - 1 kg Turmeric rhizome - 1 kg Peenari changu (Clerodendrum inermi) - 1 kg. Chothukatralai (Aloe vera) - 1 kg. Nochi (Vitex negundo) - 1 kg Neem Kernel (Azadirachta indica) - 1 kg Calortropis - 1 kg. The above products are ground into a paste by adding sufficient water and about 5 liters of juice is extracted. This is diluted with another 15 liters of water to make 20 liters finally. This herbal extract is administered into the crown region of the plants at the rate of 2 liters per palm after the harvest of nuts. This is repeated once in two months i.e. during harvesting time. He charges Rs.10/- per coconut tree for performing this treatment. He has 2 daughters (13 years and 9 years) and a wife, all of whom are involved in preparing both herbal pesticide as well as Panchagavya. His daughters, though they are studying, help out in the preparation during leisure time. However, his wife is fully engaged in the collection of herbal ingredients and preparation. They now stay in a rented house. He is looking to leasing this house on a long-term basis which is crucial for the large scale production of herbal pesticide. He covers about 100-150 acres per month during peak season (Oct.-Dec.) His health has recovered considerably after taking to herbal pesticide; his appetite has also improved. The paddy grains produced through spraying with herbal pesticide are hard and of improved weight. The quality of food is also improving says Mr. Chellamuthu. Standardization of Herbal Pesticide Initially, he come across chlorosis (yellowing of foliage) 3-4 days after spraying the herbal pesticide in turmeric and other crops. Later on he decided to include calotropis leaves in the herbal mixture as one of the ingredients. He got this idea after observing the coconut tree; seeing the colour of the dark-green nuts after spraying for the purpose of controlling the eriophyid mite. He then included calotropis in the herbal pesticide (calotropis is known to contain the element boron). Nowadays the crops sprayed with herbal pesticide remain green and do not develop yellowing. Popularity of Chellamuthas herbal formula Initially, there was a problem in convincing the farmers. Nowadays, everybody is aware of his herbal pesticide almost in Erode and Karur Districts. He gets full employment during the period Oct.-Dec; in the remaining months, he gets employment for 15-20 days of a month. He also sells Panchagavya now. He is also treating coconut trees against the eriophyid Mite. So far he has treated 2000 coconut trees with his herbal formula. He earns Rs.500 per day during peak season. He charges Rs.20 per tank for spraying through the power sprayer. He has been regularly invited by some NGOs and farmers groups to organic farming workshops/seminars. He was specially invited to the inaugural function of the National Innovation Foundation at New Delhi held in Oct. 2000
About the Innovator
Agro-Ecological Zone: North-Western Zone (TN-2), Western Zone (TN-3)
Address: Karukkampalayam, Oonchalur Post, Kodumudi Via, Erode District.
District: Ahmedabad
State: Tamil Nadu
PIN Code 638151
Practice Details
Crop: Coconut Tree
Crop Family: Arecaceae
Crop Scientific Name: (Cocos nucifera)
Crop Vernacular Name: Coconut Palm, Coconut Tree, Coconut, Cocowood, Copra, Nariyeli.
Formulation: Liquid
Ingredients: Leaves of Custard apple (Annaona squamosa) - 1 kg Turmeric rhizome - 1 kg Peenari changu (Clerodendrum inermi) - 1 kg. Chothukatralai (Aloe vera) - 1 kg. Nochi (Vitex negundo) - 1 kg Neem Kernel (Azadirachta indica) - 1 kg Calortropis - 1 kg.
PAS 1:
"Efficacy of botanicals on the management of coconut mite Aceria guerreronis (Keifer) (
Acaridae: Eriophyidae)" -
http://www.jbiopest.com/users/LW8/efiles/vol_8_1_13-18.pdf
"Efficiency of botanical pesticides against some pests infesting hydroponic cucumber, cultivated under greenhouse conditions - The extract of Annona squamosa L. (family Annonaceae), commonly known as Sita phal, and the sweetsop and custard apple have shown potentials for pest control across a large array of insect pests. Laboratory and field experiments proved that custard apple extract effectively managed different field crop pests and stored grain pests (Misra 2000). Synthetic pesticides have many drawbacks as they are persistence, develop resistance in pests, and affect non-target organisms such as natural enemies."
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41938-019-0138-4
"Effect of Aloe vera Foliar Spray on Control of Insect Damage and Growth of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Seedlings - Aloe vera has been reported to be effective in controlling insect pests of canola Brassica napus resulting in the least aphid's damage and enhanced yields."
https://www.imedpub.com/articles/effect-of-aloe-vera-foliar-spray-on-control-of-insect-damage-and-growth-of-eggplant-solanum-melongena-l-seedlings.pdf