Siddipet: It is unusual to hear that slugs and snails damage huge quantities of crops. So, scientists from Sri Konda Lakshmana Bapuji Telangana Horticulture University (SKLTGHU) have urged the farmers in Siddipet district of Telangana to use beer to trap these pests. Several horticulture crops, like tomatoes, chilies, and beans, have been eaten by slugs, and farmers have to face all the issues.
Horticulture officials immediately came into action after hearing from farmers about the matter. Officials invited experts to visit the affected fields and find the solution. Several noted scientists, such as Dr. Anitha Kumari, Dr. Preetham, Dr. Veera Suresh, and Horticulture Officer D. Ramesh, checked the crops of local farmers in Pedda Kodur village to take stock of the situation.
Scientists said that beer-filled containers in the fields should be used because slugs are drawn to the smell of beer, fall into the container, and become trapped, allowing farmers to collect and dispose of them. This process needs to be repeated for many days to reduce the slug population.
However, it was not possible for farmers to trap snails with the help of beer because of its high price. Therefore, common salt is another solution; farmers can spread salt around the field or they can use slat-filled bags in the corner of the fields. Farmer Nagaraju shared that salt loses its effectiveness quickly due to the morning mist.
Another farmer, Ravi, expressed concern over the future of horticulture in the area; he said that now it is the government’s duty to tackle the issue. He fears many farmers will stop growing valuable fruits and vegetables due to slugs and snails.
