This season, mango production at Muthalamada is set to suffer heavily following a widespread attack by thrips. Agricultural officials said tests were being done to identify the thrips. Most pesticides being heavily experimented to manage the thrips are found to be ineffective.
The thrips are found to be sucking the flowers and drying them in large portions of the 4,000-hectare mango orchards at Muthalamada. Farmers said it was the third year that they were facing a thrip attack.
“But this year is the worst. The thrips attack is widespread like never before,” said M. Sachindran, mango farmer at Muthalamada. Some farmers admitted that pesticides were applied in several phases, yet the thrips could not be controlled. They said they approached different government authorities with their woes, and none could suggest a proper remedy.
Most of the 400-odd farmers and mango traders are anxious. Many of them have accepted advance amounts from trade agents in Delhi markets.
