KVK, Palem conducted a Diagnostic field visits in Maize and Cotton fields at Kummera, Thummalsuguru villages on 14.07.2025.

KVK, Palem conducted diagnostic field visits in the villages of Kummera and Thummalsuguru, where maize fields were found at the vegetative stage with a significant incidence of fall armyworm (FAW) — exceeding the economic threshold level (ETL) with an average of 2 larvae per whorl and a leaf damage score of 7–8. It was observed that farm women were applying insecticides using indigenous techniques, such as squeezing chemicals into the whorl using plastic bottles as a spot application method. During the visit, Dr. O. Shaila, SMS(PP) interacted with the farmers and demonstrated the use of mass trapping technology by installing 15–20 pheromone traps for FAW management and emphasized the importance of ETL-based pest control practices. In nearby cotton fields, sucking pests was observed, particularly aphids above ETL levels. Farmers were advised to spray thiamethoxam at 0.4 g/L and were guided in detail on the stem application method to effectively manage the infestation. In this visit Dr. O. Shaila, SMS (Plant Protection), R. Raghuvaran Singh YP II, Y. Sultan YP I, KVK, Palem and 12 men & 7 women farmers (Total participants 22) were participated.