African insects introduced in Jagtiial to promote oil palm yield

Jagtiial: To increase the yield of the oil palm, the horticulture department has introduced insects from Africa for cross-pollination in gardens across the district.

The insects known as ELDOMAS camerialis have already been released in some areas. Three years ago, the oil palm cultivated on 3,000 acres in Jagtiial has now reached the flower phase. However, natural cross-pollination is interrupted by the disappearance of native insects, with fertilizers and pesticides to drive them away from gardens.

Without proper pollination, the yield is likely to fall. To address this, the Horticulture Department, with the support of the Lohia Oil Palm Company, is importing an important role in African insects, which play an important role in pollination.

Oil palm bunches have both male and female flowers. The male is drawn by the aroma of flowers, insects descend on them and collect pollen grains on their body. When they later visit the female flowers, pollen is transferred, resulting in fertilization and the conversion of flowers is in fruits. This process also develops more bunches on trees.

African insects, measuring about 4 mm in length, were first used to increase the yield of the oil palm in Malaysia in 1980. Officers are now adopting the same method in Jagtiial.

Since many local farmers are unfamiliar with oil palm cultivation, the horticulture department and Lohia groups are providing technical and logical assistance. The release of these in