The Department of Fruit Science, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), organized a one-day training programme on the “Management of fruit drops in citrus with special reference to fruit-piercing moths in Citrus” at MS Randhawa Fruit Research Station, Gangian, district Hoshiarpur under the National Horticulture Mission and ICAR-AICRP on Fruits. The objective of the training was to acquaint the fruit growers with the latest scientific technologies regarding the management of fruit drop in citrus, especially, due to fruit-piercing moths. The training camp was organized under the guidance of Dr HS Rattanpal, Head, Department of Fruit Science, PAU, drawing the participation of a total of 40 fruit growers.
Dr Sandeep Singh, Principal Entomologist (Fruits), Department of Fruit Science, PAU, and Organizing Secretary of the training, inaugurated the function. At the outset, Dr Singh extended a warm welcome to the citrus growers and delivered a lecture on integrated pest management of fruit-piercing moths which was a threat to citrus growers of the Kandi area.
Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, DES (Entomology), FASC, Gangian, informed the trainees regarding incidence of fruit flies on citrus.
Dr Charanjeet Kaur, District Extension Specialist (DES-SM), FASC, Gangian, discussed importance of weed management in orchards.
Dr Indira Devi, DES (Horticulture), Fruit Research Station, Gangian, educated the trainees regarding the management of physiological fruit drop in citrus.
Principal Tarsem Singh, an organic fruit grower of village Nila Naloya, discussed his experience related to organic farming in fruit crops.
Principal Rachpal Singh, a prominent fruit grower of village Garhdiwala, also shared his experience.
Dr Sumanjit Kaur, Incharge, FRS, Gangian and Coordinator of the training, delivered a lecture on planting and aftercare of citrus plants and thanked all the experts for delivering informative lectures and trainees for listening attentively to the proceedings of this training.
The participated citrus growers were provided Horticulture Mineral Oil and PAU books related to plant protection and horticulture. According to Dr HS Rattanpal, Head, Department of Fruit Science, this training programme would help the citrus growers in timely identification of the fruit-piercing moths and their integrated eco-friendly management. He further added that this technology has been recently recommended by PAU, Ludhiana as well as ICAR-AICRP on Fruits, Bangalore.