Synthesis, Validation of IPM in Mundu Chilli in Tamil Nadu and Development of Chilli IFC Mobile App

An IPM validation trial was carried out in mundu chilli in 10 acre at Malangudi, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu for three successive crop seasons of 2019-2020 to 2021-2022. Interventions reduced the pest incidence with thrips recorded 1.60, 1.10 and 1.30/ leaf in IPM as against 4.30, 3.10 and 2.38/ leaf during 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 in Non-IPM, respectively. Similarly, there was reduced mite and fruit rot complex in IPM during the years of the study. Murda complex AUDPC was 550 and 523 in IPM as against 1220 and 841 in Non-IPM during 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, respectively. Natural enemy, coccinellid population ranged from 0.70 to 0.85 in IPM as against 1.00 to 1.10 in Non-IPM. While IPM had a maximum of six sprays, Non-IPM farmers sprayed 2.20 times during the crop season. B:C ratio was maximum (4.20) during 2019-2020 in IPM compared to Non-IPM which recorded 3.70 during the same year. During third year trial, a whatsap group was formed with 50 farmers covering 60 acres of chilli crop. An android based mobile app, chilli Insecticide and Fungicide Calculator (IFC)-bilingual was developed in English and Tamil to promote pest management in chilli. There is a need to popularise IPM through wide area dissemination of IPM and make available IPM inputs particularly traps, lures and bio-pesticides at local pesticide shops.