KVK, Palem organized webinar on Good agricultural practices in Sunflower on 07-02-2022

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Palem and Nuzivedu seeds jointly organized a virtual meeting with the innovative farmers on “Good agricultural practices in Sunflower on 07.02.2022. Dr. T. Prabhakar Reddy, PC, KVK, Palem presented Sunflower crop as a alternate crop to Paddy, importance of integrated nutrients management in Sunflower. Most of the farmers were not giving much importance on micronutrients, though they required small quantity but they play a significant role in yield enhancement. Spoken about the zero tillage sunflower cultivation & role of micronutrients like Sulphur, oil content enrichment, Boron for pollen setting & more female flower induction. Emphasized on excessive application of complex fertilizers and urea not only increase the cost of cultivation but also enhance the vegetative growth, succulence of the crop leads total collapse of the plants. Mr. M. Rajashekhar (SMS-Plant protection) given presentation on promotion of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies in Sunflower, insisted farmers to take up the spraying operations only pest incidence is above the ETL. The major problem in sunflower cultivation is head or capitulum borer damage and necrosis, suggested the need based spraying of the bio-pesticides like Azadiractin 1500ppm @ 5ml/L and Emmamectin benzoate @ 0.4g/L of water. To overcome the birds damages suggested tying of reflective ribbons around the crop, bird scaring devices and spraying with 6-8 broken eggs in 20 liters of water. Farmers raised questions on micronutrients deficiency & sucking pests incidence in Rabi crops suggested suitable IPM practices and informed them all the IPM critical inputs are available at KVK, Palem. In this meeting representatives from Nuzivedu seeds Sreenivas Rao (General manager), Ram mohan Rao (Manager) and a total of 86 farmers form Telanga, Andhra Pradesh (Rythu barosa Kendras farmers) & other input dealers were participated.