Development Of Friendly Pests In Progress In 11 Bio-labs

MULTAN, (Muzaffargarh.City – 13th Feb, 2017 ) : The agriculture department has made all biological laboratories operational in Punjab to develop one million Crysopa, a crop-friendly pest, for free distribution among farmers ahead of forthcoming cotton sowing season.

Crysopa eats enemy pests including white fly, Jassid and Aphid and thus reduces cost on application of pesticides and subsequently decrease pesticides residual effect on the lint. The initiative was a step forward to encourage farmers prefer biological control techniques over the application of pesticides with the objective to reduce cost and improve per acre yield and its quality, says a release issued by media liaison unit of Punjab agriculture department here Monday.

The Crysopa eats 329 white flies, 288 Jassid and 100 Aphid in his life span of five to seven days. Development of Crysopa was in progress at 11 biological control laboratories at Layyah, Vehari, Muzaffargarh, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Sahiwal, Okara, Pakpattan and Sheikhupura.

The department has also started preparation of Tricograma pests which uses enemy pests as its food item. The pest another outstanding quality that it saved her life by hiding in vegetable, weeds and other plants during off season.