🌶 Chilli is a major agricultural export for India, contributing to 38% of total spice exports and 31% of foreign exchange earnings. Which is more reason chilli growers should be on #PestWatch for Thrips parvispinus—also known as Black Thrips. Here’s why it matters: 💡 Black Thrips are supposedly linked to upsurge of diseases such as Anthracnose and Powdery mildew, as Thrips are known to predispose the fruits to secondary infection. 💡 This pest can weaken the fruit, making it more susceptible to these diseases, causing further damage to crops. 💡 Andhra Pradesh, with its chilli-producing districts of Guntur, Prakasam, Krishna and Kurnool, accounts for 92% of the state's chilli production. 💡 Black Thrips feed on tender flowers, causing large scale shedding of flowers, stunting and malformation of fruits and fruit drop in chilli, leading to severe yield loss. For growers who believe their crop is threatened by Black Thrips, it is critical to take action to manage the spread of this pest. We are committed to providing innovative crop protection solutions to protect both growers’ livelihood and valuable export markets like chilli that are enjoyed around the world. 🌍 What strategies have you found most effective in managing pests like Black Thrips in chilli crops? Share your insights in the comments below! 👇
