India's Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Achennaidu has taken serious note of the widespread infestation of black thrips (nalla thamara purugu) affecting chilli crops across several districts in Andhra Pradesh. Responding to reports of severe crop damage, the Minister held an urgent telephonic review with Horticulture Department Director K. Srinivas from his Vijayawada camp office and instructed officials to submit a detailed status report without delay.
The Minister directed the department to initiate immediate control measures to prevent losses to farmers. He emphasised that scientific teams must be deployed at once to the affected regions to assess the situation on the ground. Special technical squads should be formed to guide farmers on pest-management practices, particularly on the safe and effective use of pesticides, he added.
Achennaidu noted that the black thrips menace has persisted in multiple districts since 2021, necessitating broader awareness campaigns at the village level. He instructed officials to utilise Rythu Seva Kendras for training programmes and mobilise experts from Dr. YSR Horticulture University to provide field-level guidance and real-time advisories to farmers.
Horticulture Director Dr. Srinivas informed the Minister that statewide awareness and control programmes are already underway and that additional special drives have been initiated. Reassuring farmers, the Minister said the government is committed to taking urgent and comprehensive action to mitigate the pest threat and safeguard livelihoods. Dr. YSR Horticulture University has issued a set of integrated management practices to contain black thrips infestation in chilli crops.
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