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Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Booh, Tarn Taran organised a one day workshop under Project "Development of low cost fruit fly traps for Cucurbit Vegetables and its demonstration at farmers' fields in border area of district Tarn Taran’’ funded by NABARD at Village Asal Utaar district Tarn Taran where 40 farmers participated from different villages. Dr. Balwinder Kumar, Associate Director, KVK, Tarn Taran highlighted the activities carried out by the KVK and also emphasized to increase the area under horticultural crops for agriculture diversification in district Tarn Taran. Dr. Nirmal Singh, Assistant Professor (Horticulture) informed that cucurbit fruit fly infests over 70 host plants, amongst which, fruits of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), muskmelon (Cucumis melo), snap melon (Cucumis melo var. momordica) and snake gourd (Trichosanthes anguina and T. cucumeria) are the most preferred hosts. The cucurbit fruit fly remains active throughout the year on one or the other host. Maggots feed inside the fruits, but at times, also feed on flowers, and stems. Generally, the females prefer to lay the eggs in soft tender fruit tissues by piercing them with the ovipositor. The extent of losses varies between 30 to 100%, depending on the cucurbit species and the season. Dr. Singh said low cost fruit fly traps is a good option to control fruit fly in cucurbits and low cost fruit fly traps will be distributed to the farmers of district. S. Sukhwinder Singh, Progressive farmer proposed the vote of thanks and also appreciated the efforts of KVK for this workshop conducted at Border village of district Tarn Taran.
