There is a looming threat to the cotton from whitefly attack in some parts of Punjab and Haryana that has sent farmers in a panic situation. However, a team of experts at UPL has suggested the farmers to not panic but with the application of their insecticide Ulala, the whitefly population build-up can be managed and the cotton crop can be saved.
Ulala, (Flonicamid50WG) has been recommended by Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) and has been successfully used to effectively manage control of whitefly on the cotton crop for several years. Considering the population build-up of whiteflies in some parts of the Punjab & Haryana, the UPL team has deployed its field officers to visit the Hotspots and advise the farmers on how to manage whitefly by application of the right product, at right time, right dosage and right way of spraying to manage the further spread of whitefly. UPL’s advanced spraying machinery wing Adarsh Farm Services (AFS) has also being deployed across the hotspots with its trained staff to spray on cotton crop.
Dr A K Dhawan, Former Head, Department of Entomology, PAU, Ludhiana said, “The incidence of whitefly on cotton is now a regular phenomenon on cotton crop in the north irrigated cotton belt of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan”. The farmers need not panic as this pest can be managed. There are many factors like favourable weather, delayed rain, the susceptibility of transgenic hybrids, excessive use of nitrogen, lack of proper survey and surveillance, delayed spraying that add to the build-up and multiplication of this pest. The excessive use of nitrogen and irrigation may result in unwanted vegetative growth and may result in poor control with insecticides.
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Dr Dhawan further added that the farmer should regular monitoring the crop and use recommended insecticide to manage the pests. The proper selection of insecticide, timing of spray and spray technology can keep pest under control. The most important is to manage the pest at an early stage. In case build-up whitefly is observed, don’t panic, not use tank mixing of insecticides and with proper monitoring available recommendation and whitefly can be managed.
Surveer Singh, Cotton Farmer from Gadli Village, Sirsa, Haryana said, “ I sprayed Ulala on my 60-65 days old cotton crop and the second spray in next 15 days, I haven’t found any infestation of whitefly in my field. My cotton crop is healthy, and I suggest other cotton farmers also follow the same practice of right insecticide, right dosage at the right time to keep their crop safe from whitefly attack.” Another farmer Garja Singh from Bagha Village, Bathinda also admitted of applying Ulala on his cotton crop that saved it from any infestation of whitefly and Jassids.
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Ankit Laddha, North Region, Head, UPL, said, “We understand the concerns of the farmers at this situation and assure them the best support to control whitefly. Our team of experts is keeping a strict vigil on the outbreak of whitefly in cotton, they are in regular contact of the farmers and visiting their farms to check the stage of the whitefly and accordingly advising them to apply the best practices recommended by the Agriculture Universities (PAU) and Experts to contain it.
He further added UPL has also deployed its 250 modern Falcon spraying machines in the hotspots to spray their farms faster and effectively. UPL product Ulala has proved to be the best when it comes to controlling whitefly that has been recommended by the agriculture universities as well as entomologists.