Sugarcane Borers: A Major Threat to Sugarcane Production in India and Their Management

Abstract

Sugarcane can be cultivated under diverse agro climatic conditions. It is a long duration crop and requires 10 to 18 months to mature depending upon the geographical conditions. Sugarcane yield is markedly influenced by many factors, among them insect pests are known to inflict considerable loss to be approx. 20 percent in cane yield and 15 percent in sugar. At the above fact,  the management of sugarcane  has become a challenging task because of reasons like faster multiplication of pest, quick spread on large area within a short span of time, difficulty in application of insecticides especially spray and dust formulations during later stage of crop growth. Considering all these constraints it is very necessary to undertake timely management practices with an integrated approach by utilizing an economically viable, eco-friendly and amenable management strategies to combat the pest population of sugarcane.