FARMERS’ RESPONSE ON MUNG BEANS CULTIVATION AND PEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SELECTED COASTAL DISTRICTS OF BANGLADESH

A comprehensive survey was conducted by extensive tour in Patuakhali, Barguna, Barisal, Jalokathi and Pirojpur coastal districts of Bangladesh to know the farmer’s perception on the insect pests attacking mung bean and their management practices adopted by them during January to April 2019. Results of survey revealed that among the respondents (farmer’s) the highest rate of mungbean farmers (66.00%) cultivated local mung bean variety followed by BARImung 6 (8.00%) and BARImung 5 (6.00%). Most (90.00%) of the mung bean growers opined that insect pests viz., flea beetle, leaf roller, whitefly, jassid, aphid, thrips and pod borer complex (Maruca sp and Helicoverpa sp.) attacked mung bean at different growth stages, among which flea beetle and pod borer were the most damaging insect pests. The rate of knowledge of farmers about mung bean insect pest infestation was 48.00% (thrips), 40.50% (aphid), 37.00% (leaf roller), 31.00% (white fly), 21.00% (jassids) and 15.50% (hairy caterpillar). Mung bean growers applied only chemical pesticides where majority (18.50%) of the growers sprayed virtako 40 WG followed by karate 2.5EC (13.80%) and voliam f lexi 300SC (12.50%) while 1.50% growers applied actara for the management mungbean insect pests. 

Keywords: Farmers’ response, insect pest problems, pest management, pesticides