Following reports of the emergence of an insect defoliator (yellow tail moth) in Hardass Gond area of Kargil district, Chief Horticulture Officer Kargil, along with Chief Agriculture Officer Kargil and the concerned field functionaries of Horticulture and Agriculture Department visited villages like Karkitchoo, Hardass Gond/Thang, Chanigond for on spot inspection and assessment of the infestation on May 8.

It has been observed the presence of a web on fruit trees particularly on apricot trees in some specific locations of Hardass Gond. The Sarpanch Roqaya Banoo, Naib Sarpanch, Ghulam Mohd, Panch Fiza Banoo besides the fruit growers of the area were present during the visit.

The farmers and village representatives present on the spot were given awareness regarding the life cycle and organic management of the devastating insect/pest, beside a demonstration regarding its control and management.

Social media through WhatsApp groups is also being used for wide publicity and awareness among the masses. In the meantime, the field functionaries of the department were instructed to visit their respective areas and report the status for further appropriate necessary action.

The following integrated pest management (IPM) practices should be adopted for effective control of the insect (Yellow Tail moth).

The webs in which the pest (larvae) survives should be removed by way of clipping the particular web with the help of a lopper and destroying it by dumping them into pits and covering it with soil.

Farmers have been advised that the trees having large dead, injured twigs and branches which serve as shelter for these insects need to be discarded.

Orchard sanitation should be maintained. An Autumn survey should be conducted to check the un-shaded leaves and their destruction for breaking the life cycle of insects.