Entomology

As sugarcane is a tropical crop with high sugar accumulation, it attracts large number of insect pests during its entire life cycle. Hence controlling these pests within the economic threshold level is critical to produce a profitable and sustainable crop

The early shoot borers, internode borers and top borers are the major pests observed in our command area. The Entomologist along with the Extension team monitor the incidence of pests in farmers holdings and provide remedial measures on a day-to-day basis.

The chemical control measures traditionally practiced by the farmers are limited to control the pests in the initial stages of the crop due to canopy nature of the sugarcane plant. Further, these chemicals not only create safety, health and environmental problems, but also provide opportunity to the insect pests to develop resistance. Hence a sustainable, environmentally safe pest control program was initiated by Parry as a part of its corporate commitment towards the safe and sustainable agriculture. The Entomologists, on several years of research developed bio-control agents such as Trichogramma, Tetrastichus, Cotesia, etc. to control these borers.

The production facilities located at Nellikuppam, Pugular and Pettavaithali produces 1.75 Lakh CC of Tricho cards and distribute to the farmers of our command area through the Extension team. 

As part of the social up-liftment of the local communities around the sugar factory at Pudukottai, Parry transferred the Bio-control production technology to the local self-help groups. These self-help groups produce the bio-control agents and supplies to Parry's farmers enabling them to realize a committed market price.

The Entomologists also work in association with the Breeders to develop pest tolerant varieties suitable to our command area.