TIRUPATI: The kharif perspective meeting conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) here on Saturday focused on the red hairy caterpillar (yerra gongali) menace and suggested preventive measures to farmers.

Associate Director of RARS P.V. Reddy and Joint Director (Agriculture) Ramachandram cautioned farmers to be wary of the menace touching its peak in next 30 days when adult moths emerge in large numbers.

"Farmers can go for deep ploughing to expose and suppress the pupae in soil, apart from monitoring emergence of adult moths by setting up light traps and bon fire during nights after receipt of monsoon showers," Dr. Reddy advised.

He said that spraying of neemseed paste on crops would yield results. On groundnut, he suggested that seed varieties like `Narayani' and `Tirupati-25' be selected for better output.

The farmers were also advised to dig farm ponds.

Tips were also given to paddy and sugarcane farmers.

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