1. Domain 1 – Agriculture Group III
Cotton- Management of cotton crop particularly pest and disease vulnerability by deploying appropriate technology & management practices.

2. Group-III
Chairman: Dr. Jasbir Singh Bains, Director of Agriculture, Punjab
Co- Chairman: Dr. R.S. Solanki, MD, Haryana Seed Development Corporation.
Anchor: Dr. R.K.Singh, ADG(CC), ICAR
Participating States: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu

3. Status of Insect Pests and Diseases
Andhra Pradesh: Major Pest like jassid and pink bollworm.
Tamilnadu: No major Problem.
Gujarat: Persistent problem of pink bollworm.
Maharastra: Sporadic problem of pink bollworm in marathawada region from
Telangana: jassids , Pink bollworm and leaf reddening.
Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan: severe infestation of whitefly and CLCV.

4. Management of Pink bollworm
Crop rotation to break the life cycle of the pest
Timely sowings
Planting non Bt. refugia around the field
Surveillance of Pink Boll Worm
Mass trapping and mating disruption technique on wide area through integrated approach
Release bio-agents and conserve natural enemies
Apply only CIB&RC recommended pesticides

5. Management of Pink bollworm (Off season)
Gin Sanitation
Field sanitation.
Allow cattle, sheep and goats to graze
Removal and destruction of cotton stubbles
Create awareness on the importance of destroying pink bollworm damaged cotton seeds after ginning.
Destroy trashed and stained cotton with damaged seeds whether lying in the farmer’s house or in the Gins.

6. Advisory for the management of whitefly and leaf curl virus (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan)
Regular awareness and trainings to the farmers
Removal of alternate hosts viz. vegetables, ornamentals and weeds.
Use recommended hybrids/varieties
Complete sowing before 15th May
Promote Desi cotton varieties
Apply recommended dose of fertilizers (avoid excessive use of urea)
Plant barrier crops viz. sorghum/bajra/maize
Use yellow sticky traps
Avoid synthetic pyrethroids and tank mixing of pesticides

7. State Specific Strategies Planned for Kharif 2016
Maharashtra
-Pink Bollworm is to be incorporated in CROPSAP Model for regular crop advisories
- Short Duration Bt Hybrids/Varieties to be advised.
Gujarat:
- Awareness for cultivation of short duration varieties/Hybrids.
Seed Companies to be involved for management of pink bollworm and training programmes.
supply of bio-agents
adoption of management advisories.

8. State Specific Strategies Planned for Kharif 2016
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
Plan for diversification of cotton towards pulses and millets
Application of need based micro-nutrients for management of leaf reddening

9. THANKS