Gram Pod Borer control in Chickpea

Is your promising chickpea (chana) crop being destroyed from the inside out? Are you finding holes in pods, entry points with frass (excreta), and half-eaten seeds? The culprit is likely the Gram Pod Borer (Helicoverpa armigera), one of the most destructive and widespread pests for chickpea farmers.

This pest is notorious for developing resistance to chemical pesticides, making your expensive sprays less effective every season. But there is a smarter, safer, and more sustainable way: Bt Bio-Insecticide.

Why Chemical Pesticides Fail Against Gram Pod Borer

The Gram Pod Bore is a hidden feeder. The larvae bore into the chickpea pods and feed on the developing seeds, safely sheltered from surface-level chemical sprays. This means:

• Wasted Sprays: Chemicals don't reach the larvae inside the pod.

• Resistance: The borer quickly develops resistance to chemical molecules.

• Residue: Harmful chemical residues remain on your harvest, affecting market quality.

• Ecosystem Damage: Chemicals kill beneficial insects and harm soil health.

The Smarter Solution: Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) Powder

Bt is a naturally occurring, soil-dwelling bacterium that is deadly to caterpillars like the Gram Pod Borer but completely harmless to humans, animals, birds, bees, and earthworms. It’s the cornerstone of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and organic farming.

How Does Our Bt Powder Work?

When the pod borer larvae ingest the Bt spores and toxins (after you spray it on the chickpea plants), it acts as a "stomach poison" for the pest.

1. The larvae eats the Bt-treated leaf or pod.

2. The Bt toxin crystallizes in its alkaline gut.

3. It paralyzes the larva's digestive system.

4. The larva stops feeding within hours and dies within 1-3 days.

The best part? Since the borer has to eat the Bt to be affected, it only targets the pests that are actively damaging your crop.

Why Choose Our Bt Powder for Your Chickpea Crop?

Our Bt Kurstaki Powder is specifically formulated for high efficacy against lepidopteran pests like the Gram Pod Borer.

• ✅ Highly Specific: Kills only pod borers, leaving beneficial insects (like pollinators) safe.

• ✅ Zero Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI): Can be applied right up to the day of harvest. No toxic residues.

• ✅ Fights Resistance: Perfect for rotating in your IPM program to break the resistance cycle.

• ✅ Cost-Effective: Reduces the need for expensive, ineffective chemical sprays.

How to Use Our Bt Powder for Effective Pod Borer Control (Step-by-Step)

Timing is Everything! For best results, do not wait until you see heavy infestation.

1. Monitoring: Start scouting your field at the flowering stage. Use pheromone traps to monitor adult moth activity.

2. First Spray: Apply at the pod formation stage, especially when you see the first signs of eggs or tiny larvae.

3. Mixing: Mix 4-5 grams of our Bt Powder per liter of water. Add a recommended sticker/sticker spreader to help the solution adhere to the leaves and pods.

4. Spraying: Spray thoroughly, ensuring complete coverage of all pods, flowers, and leaves. Spray during late afternoon or early morning for best results, as UV rays can degrade Bt.

5. Reapplication: Repeat application every 7-10 days, or after rain, depending on pest pressure.