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Armyworm outbreak on early sown cotton in Ghotki
According to the agriculture ordinance, raising paddy nursery before May 10 in Sindh is not allowed. This restriction is based on the fact that early sowing of nursery serves as a host for the rice-stem-borer moth's population, which in turn leads to excessive stem damages to the crop. Keeping in view this fact, Punjab government agriculture extension has advised its growers not to undertake early cultivation of cotton crop so as to keep the bollworm's problem at the low ebb.
In spite of the fact that following the widespread emergence of armyworm in the cotton belt of upper Sindh, especially in Ghotki district during 2003 cotton season, it was imperative on the part of the agriculture extension department of Sindh not to allow early cultivation of cotton crop and to keep a vigilant eye on the emergence of armyworm on any host plant, including vegetables and cotton. But the agriculture department of the province is either in a deep slumber or complacent about the target fixed for cotton crop 2004. The officials concerned might have been thinking that it would be achieved easily because of the farming community's interest in this precious crop.
But unfortunately their contentment backfired. There is a report of armyworm outbreak from Kacho area and also non-Kacho area in the cotton crop sown in April. This crop was cultivated with tube-well water. In Ghotki sowing of cotton starts from the end of May or June 1.
Besides early sowing, one more factor that apparently triggered the armyworm outbreak was the cultivation of CIM-449 variety which the Sindh agriculture department has disapproved. All the three Ghotki growers, who reported the attack of armyworm on their crops sown in April, had cultivated CIM-499 variety.
Last year, FH-1000 and BT cotton varieties, not approved by the Sindh agriculture department, were found more prone to armyworm attack.
Intensity of the armyworm outbreak in the early-sown cotton can be gauged from the fact that a grower of Obaro, Fida Hussain Niazi, reported that the damage to his CIM-499 variety of cotton was so severe that he had to destroy the entire crop sown over 100 acres. But now he is planning to sow another variety of cotton.
Similarly, Haji Khan Abro of Mirpur Mathelo reported that his cotton crop in Kucho area sown over about 12 acres was severely damaged by armyworm. Some growers in the border areas of district Ghotki have also reported damage to their early-sown cotton by armyworm.
The irony is that despite being the backbone of Pakistan's economy, as cotton helps earn millions of people their livelihood, neither any contingency plan has so far been chalked out to protect the financially-hit farming community of Sindh nor any strategy has been designed to counter the pest attack, especially the armyworm.
The news of the pest attack, after facing a lot of other problems, may deal a blow to farmers. They have already been facing poor germination of cotton, non-availability of quality seed, availability of unauthorized cottonseed on high price, unchecked sale of BT cottonseed by the so-called mafia and some ginning factories and short measuring by the registered seed companies etc.
However, in order to determine the present status of armyworm in Nara canal belt, considered to be the prime cotton belt of upper Sindh, a survey was undertaken on May 31. The varieties of CIM-109 and Naib-78 sown in April were found in Salahpat area of district Sukkur and taluka Nara of district Khairpur. But the crop at both the places was found free from armyworm attack.
To check emergence of armyworm's moth population, light trapping using Petromax was also undertaken in the evening till late, but no population of armyworm could be detected. However, at Salahpat, Niab-78 in the early squaring stage was found heavily infected (almost 80 per cent) with Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) disease. The armyworm (spodopthera sp) (Lepidoptera-noctuidae) is a polyphagous insect. Besides cotton, its common hosts are cabbage, maize, lucern, jute, indigo, gram, linseed, etc. Last year. this worm was found on many weeds grown in the cotton fields. In the rice growing belt of upper Sindh, armyworm almost wiped out the lotus cultivation, especially in district Larkana. Suggestions
Since cotton sown in April, especially CIM-499 variety, has been found highly susceptible to armyworm, growers should be advised not to grow this variety. Keeping in view year's experience, cultivation of FH-1000 should also be discouraged.
Although BT cotton has been banned both by MINFAL and the Sindh agricultural department, its cultivation is rampant this year. Appropriate action should be taken both at federal and provincial levels.
In order to give early warning of armyworm emergence, a contingency plan should be prepared on war footings by the agriculture departments of Sindh and Punjab.
The meteorology department should be asked to provide monsoon forecast in advance for Kharif 2004 season.
To determine peak emergence period of armyworm, traps baited with sex pheromones for spodoptera exigna as well as spodoptera litura should be made available in the local market. This is necessary to avoid injudicious use of pesticides for armyworm control as observed during cotton season 2003 in the upper Sindh region.
The writer
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