Officials directed to conduct survey on black-headed caterpillar infestation in coconut trees of Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district

Deputy Commissioner of Chamarajanagar Shilpa Nag has directed officials to conduct a scientific survey on the infestation of black-headed caterpillars affecting coconut plantations in the district and submit a report to her.

Chairing a district-level meeting on the issue in Chamarajanagar on Friday, Ms. Nag said that the survey should be conducted as per the government’s orders in this regard, and a report should be submitted to facilitate appropriate measures to be taken to protect the coconut trees.

Emphasising the need for timely action, Ms. Nag said the survey of areas affected by black-headed caterpillars and white flies in coconut plantations must be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

She said that people with software knowledge should be selected and the crop survey should be carried out using the mobile application developed by the e-Governance Department of the State government. She also appealed to coconut growers in the district to cooperate with private survey personnel visiting their farms for inspection.

“The Departments of Revenue, Agriculture, and Horituculture should coordinate with each other to carry out the survey work. The Deputy Director of Horticulture Department, Chamarajanagar, should supervise the survey, present the findings before the district-level committee, and submit a report along with the committee’s observations and recommendations to the Directorate of Horticulture, she said.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) experts must guide farmers with advisory measures to prevent and control black-headed caterpillar infestations, while awareness programmes should be organised at all Raitha Samparka Kendras, Ms. Nag said. The farmers should be widely educated about measures to be taken to prevent an outbreak of the pest, she added.

The Deputy Commissioner called upon the officials to pay special attention to areas with severe infestation. Tahsildars should take greater care during the survey process and extend full cooperation to the Horticulture Department in order to ensure accurate reporting, she said.

Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Naresh briefed the participants of the meeting about the life cycle of a black-headed caterpillar and whitefly pests, the symptoms of damage caused by them, and methods of control.