A STUDY OF PEOPLE'S AWARENESS ON VARIOUS SUGARCANE PRODUCTS

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum interspecific hybrids) yield is greatly affected by different pests in Pakistan. A total of three hundred and thirty-six (336) volunteer sugarcane farmers were interviewed and their fields inspected. Major pests were noted as; rat (Bandicota bengalensis), termites (Heterotermes indicola), borer (Bissetia steniellus), and leafhopper (Pyrilla perpusilla). These occurred in single and combined status in sugarcane fields. Most (147/336) of the sugarcane farmers mentioned four types of pests in their fields. In general 200/336 of the sugarcane farmers had applied pesticides in single and combined forms in their fields, they achieved a maximum average yield of 80 t ha⁻¹. The number of farmers who applied malathion was 36/336. They achieved an average yield of 105.5 kg ha⁻¹. Only one sugarcane farmer applied regent and furadon in combined form and obtained an average yield of 92.6 kg ha⁻¹ in their field.