Impact of extension activities on pink bollworm management in Bt-cotton in tribal areas of Adilabad district

The present investigations on Frontline demonstrations (FLDs) were carried out on large scale in an area of 50 acres and implemented successively in the operational area of ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Adilabad (Telangana state) under rainfed conditions followed by other supporting extension strategies during the year 2018-2019 (Kharif season). All the 50 practicing farmers were trained on various aspects of Bt cotton production and protection technologies. In FLD practicing farmers fields, trap catches were low during July-September and ranged between (4-10 no. of adults/trap) and high during October and November (50 -110 adults/trap). Higher seed cotton yield (21.3 q ha-1) with net return 68,187 (Rs. ha-1) and a B:C ratio of 2.65:1 was recorded in the demonstrations compared to 17.5 q ha-1 in farmers’ practice might be due to imparting knowledge on identification of pest and making farmers adopt right management practices particular to pink bollworm which in turn reduced the number of plant protection sprays. Hence, the technology may be popularized to minimize the extension gap.