FAISALABAD, Feb 23 (APP):The agriculture experts advised the tomato growers to take immediate precautions to protect their crops from pest attacks and ensure higher yields, warning that any delay could lead to significant losses and financial strain.
A spokesman for the agriculture (Extension) department said on Monday that with changing weather conditions, harmful insects can attack tomato plants at any stage from sprouting to fruit ripening, causing severe damage to plants and fruits.
He explained that cutworms, which hide near the soil surface during the day, cut young plants at night. He recommended manually locating and destroying the larvae close to freshly cut plants to reduce damage.He said farmers should spread 350 grams of Sevin mixed with ash around each plant in one acre area to protect
the crop.He said that American cutworm burrows into the tomato fruit, rendering it inedible.The growers should control its moths by using light traps, he advised.
He further highlighted that the active thrips weaken plants by sucking sap from the undersides of leaves, leading to reduction in fruit formation.