Management of mites and thrips in capsicum under polyhouse through front line demonstration in Bengaluru rural district, Karnataka, India

Mites and thrips are critical pests infesting capsicum crop. It causes economic losses of 50%. A study on management of these pests was conducted at Doddaballapur taluk by ICAR-KVK, Bengaluru Rural district, through front line demonstration during 2022-2023. The results indicated that the mites and thrips infestation under front line demonstration was 62.72% lower than the actual plots under farmer’s practice. The marketable yield obtained under front line demonstration was maximum (37.49 t/ha) and was minimum under farmer’s practice plots (27.21 t/ha). The analysis of cost economics revealed that the net returns (5,96,431.80 Rs/ha) and B:C ratio (2.74) were maximum under front line demonstration plots and were lesser in farmer’s practice plots (3,94,476.00 Rs/ha and 2.38, respectively). The analysis of gaps: total yield gap, technological gap, extension gaps in the study revealed that there is a need to bridge the gaps through proper training, method demonstration, dissemination of technological interventions, instilling coordination and removal of circumstantial differences between the farmers, researchers, and scientists, and convincing the farmers to adopt improved practices for the commercial production of capsicum.