Indigenous practices for protecting groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) crops against pests and diseases in Saurashtra region, Gujarat, India

Abstract

The study was carried out in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, India, with the aim of recording the traditional procedures used by Indigenous groundnut producers (Arachis hypogaea L.) to reduce the negative effects of pests. The research assessed various cost-effective pest management strategies. Employing intensive surveys with a sample of 120 groundnut farmers from twelve villages in the Saurashtra region, we catalogued 40 indigenous pest control techniques across different crop production stages, with 23 practices deemed scientifically rational. Analysis revealed that 74% of the surveyed farmers utilized open furrow techniques during the pre-sowing phase, with a significant proportion adopting early sowing, movable lighting to repel blue bulls, and pod drying after harvesting. These practices were characterized by their low cost and environmentally sustainable nature, relying on locally-sourced inputs. Among the methods evaluated, pod drying after harvesting and open furrows were identified as the most effective and economical for controlling pests and diseases.