How to Choose the Right Insecticide for Your Crop

Every season, farmers lose a part of their harvest to insects. Using the right insecticide at the right time can protect your crop and your income. But with so many products in the market, how do you choose the right one? Here is a simple step-by-step guide.

1. Identify the pest first

Before buying any product, check your field carefully. Look at the leaves, stems and fruits. Is the pest sucking the sap (like aphids, jassids, whitefly or thrips) or chewing the leaves and fruits (like caterpillars and borers)? Different pests need different types of insecticides.

2. Check the level of attack

A few insects do not always need a spray. Walk through your field at different spots and count the pests. Spray only when the attack starts increasing. This saves money and protects useful insects like bees and ladybirds.

3. Read the label

The label tells you which crops and pests the product is approved for, the correct dose, and the waiting period before harvest. Choose a product that is recommended for your crop and your pest.

4. Change the product group

Using the same insecticide again and again can make pests resistant. Rotate between products with different technical ingredients to keep control strong season after season.

5. Spray at the right time

• Spray in the early morning or late evening.
• Avoid spraying in strong wind or just before rain.
• Use clean water and the correct amount of water per acre.
• Cover both sides of the leaves properly.

Choosing the right insecticide is not about using the strongest product. It is about using the right product, at the right dose, at the right time.

Always read the product label and leaflet carefully before use, and follow the recommended dose. For crop-specific advice, contact the GeneTech team.