An IPM module was developed for the successful management of okra pest complex. The IPM module comprising of seed treatment with imidacloprid @ 3-5 g/kg of seed a day before sowing, sowing of maize at the borders as barrier crop for conservation of natural enemies, weekly clipping of infested shoot & fruit, erection of pheromone trap @ 30 traps/ha for mass trapping of fruit & shoot borer, foliar spray of neem seed kernel extract @ 30 ml/lt, spinosad 45SC or imidacloprid 17.8SL @0.3ml/lt and aqueous leaf extracts of Morinda citrifolia @ 100g/l at 15 days interval was found most effective in reducing fruit damage. In IPM module, less incidence of shoot and fruit borer (5.64%) and more fruit yield (10.55t/ha) was recorded as compared to untreated control (16.85% incidence and fruit yield 5.90t/ha).
It can be adopted for fruit & shoot borer management during okra cultivation under islands conditions.
The adoption of IPM technology for okra fruit & shoot borer resulted in higher cost benefit ratio of 1:2.73 in IPM and 1:2.26 in non-IPM fields (Chemical control or Farmer’s practice)
Director, Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair-744 101, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.