An awareness workshop on Tuta absoluta (Tomato leaf miner) was held in Kolar on 21/10/2019. This year, incidence of Tuta has been severe in different parts of Karnataka because of more congenial conditions for the pest. The damage caused by the pest has been significant in some parts of Karnataka like Kolar, where tomato is being grown round the year. An awareness workshop on Tomato leaf miner identification and its management was organised by Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka for the benefit of the Tomato growers of Kolar. More than 150 farmers attended the meeting from different parts of Kolar district. Dr. V. Sridhar, Principal Scientist, Division of Entomology and Nematology, ICAR-IIHR was the resource person for the workshop. Smt. M. Gayathri, Deputy Director (Horticulture), Kolar introduced Dr. V. Sridhar to the gathering regarding how the pest was reported from India for the first time and about IPM package developed against the pest from ICAR-IIHR. Dr. V. Sridhar explained in detail about the pest and its management options. He explained that no single method can be very effective for the management of this pest and Integrated Management is the only viable option. He explained about the light trap based integrated management of tomato leaf miner. Farmers were explained about the results of injudicious use of pesticides in terms of residues and insecticide resistance problems. Various queries related to Tuta management, raised by the farmers, were answered during the workshop. Other guests present in the meeting are Sri J. Manjunath, Deputy Commissioner, Kolar District, Smt. M. Gayathri, Deputy Director, Horticulture, Sri H.K. Shiva Kumar, Joint Director Agriculture, Mr. Thulasiram, Head of ICAR-KVK, Kolar. After the meeting, there was a field visit wherein the live identification of various stages of Tuta insect and different management options were explained to the farmers.
