Farmers advised to avoid pesticides

MULTAN: Agriculture experts have advised farmers to avoid applying pesticides to the wheat crop and instead opt for biological means to get rid of pests.

In a statement issued Monday by the media liaison unit of the Punjab Agriculture Department, experts said pests including jassid and aphid, suck juice from different parts of the wheat plants leaving the plant and grain weak.

In case of an intense attack, the leaf turns yellow with brown fungus and the size of the grain shortens. They weaken the plants capability to form food for itself.

The agriculture spokesman said friendly pests, including lady beetle, chrysopa spider, and surfed fly feed on enemy pests like aphid, and farmers should release these wheat friendly insects in case of noticing the presence of aphid or its pupae to eliminate or reduce its population.