Ludhiana, June 23
One of the major reasons for the low productivity of cotton which is the main crop of South-Western districts of Punjab, is the magnitude of insecticide-and pestcide which attack the cotton crop from sowing to maturity.

Dr G.S. Deol, Head Department of Entomology, PAU, said the economy of cotton growers of this area mainly depended on the successful cultivation of the crop. However, the productivity was on the decline since the past decade due to attacks of American bollworm and whitefly.

In spite of excessive use of pesticides, the farmers are unable to achieve a good yield. This indiscriminate use of pesticides to control these pests resulted in the development of resistance in the bollworm and resurgence of whitefly.

To manage the insecticide resistance in pests and to reduce the cost of plant protection, integrated resistance management (IRM) strategies will be implemented in the cotton growing areas of Punjab. To create awareness among farmers, a novel method of dissemination of the IRM strategy through street plays will be adopted in these districts.

He revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture, and the DFID (UK) had sponsored a streetplay drama contest at the CICR, Nagpur, to convey the message of strategies. The PAU team led by Dr A K Dhawan, State Coordinator, IRM project, and Dr Anil Sharma are going to CICR, Nagpur, to participate in this street play drama contest from June 24 - 26. The theme of the street play is to stop addiction to pesticides, conservation of natural enemies and reduction in the use of insecticides through the IRM.

According to Dr Deol, the insecticide resistance management strategies which will be disseminated through the play include selection of sucking pest resistant varieties to delay the spray, judicious use of irrigation water and fertilisers, pest surveillance, spray on basis of economic threshold level, avoidance of organophosphate insecticides up to 60 days after sowing.

Ludhiana, June 23
As many as 540 candidates from the region appeared for the ARS-NET examination held at Punjab Agricultural University here today.

Mr S. S. Chahal, Controller of Examinations, said the exams were held under the aegis of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board and the ICAR. The validity of the exams is two years and it is a mandatory requirement for anyone seeking a job in the agricultural universities of the country.