the goan I network
MAPUSA
Sounding alarm bells on the whitefly infestation that threatens to disrupt coconut crops across the State, the Goa Green Brigade has urged the government to take steps on war-footing to combat the widespread infestation of whitefly in Goa.
“Urgent measures have to be put in place to prevent whitefly from entering through the borders of Goa by putting appropriate 24x7 checking and testing points at the border posts during the transportation of coconuts and coconut saplings,” said Avertino Miranda, coordinator of Goa Green Brigade.
In a letter to the department of agriculture and Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), the Goa Green Brigade has suggested use of appropriate organic and non-toxic sprays including the use of neem leaves based solutions to prevent loss of coconut trees and its yield.
Assistant Director of Agriculture Anant Hoble admitted the growing threat of whitefly pest in the State which has mainly been imported from Karnataka where there are large groves of coconut plantations.
“We have alerted ICAR to look into the menace and suggest some measures to be adopted to arrest the spread so that we can pass on the message to the farmers,” Hoble said.
