Farmers' knowledge on pesticides and their safe use are critical for implementing effective pest management program. A household survey was conducted using the semi-structured questionnaire to evaluate vegetable growers' knowledge on pesticide safety and pest management practices in Nepal. Results indicated that chemical pesticides were the primary choice of over 80% growers for pest management. Notably, 90% growers were aware of adverse effects of pesticides on human health and to the environment. Over 84% growers used at least one form of personal protection equipment (PPE) during pesticide spray or handling, although the quality and appropriateness of the PPE warrants further investigation. Nearly 17% growers received at least one short-term training on integrated pest management (IPM); however, all of them neither knew the harmful effects of pesticide residues nor practiced proper pesticide disposal methods. Over 90% of growers rely on local pesticide retailers (i.e., Agro-vets) for technical know-how about pesticide selection, handling, and use. This study highlighted a need for immediate implementation of strict pesticide use regulations and recommended educational programs for pest control professionals, growers, and pesticide retailers.

A household survey was conducted during January 2012 in Gunjanagar, Dibyanagar and Sukranagar Village Development Committee of Chitwan district to know the socioeconomic status, status of spotted pod borer and its management practice. The survey included purposive random sampling methods in 35 yardlong bean growers. Most of commercial farmers have been growing since 3-7 years. Nearly three fourth of the farmers considered spotted pod borer as a major pest of yarldlong bean in Chitwan. Most of them considered more than 60% loss caused by spotted pod borer if no management practice is applied. Almost all sprayed chemical pesticides for management of spotted pod borer and nearly three fourth of them used more than one chemical pesticides alternately for management of spotted pod borer.One third farmers (31.43%) applied chemical pesticides in 4-7 days interval and one third of them (31.43%) applied chemical pesticides in 7-10 days interval after beginning of flowering for management of spotted pod borer. Almost all farmers (94.29%) knew adverse effect of pesticides on human, environment, natural enemies and other animal. Majority (94.29%) of farmers harvested pods after 1-3 day of spray of chemical pesticides and very few (14.29%) of commercial grower of this area get training in insect pest management.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 4(1): 39-43

Tomato is one of the major vegetable crops inNepal. The productivity of tomato in Nepal is very low due to lack of high yielding, disease and pests resistant varieties.The objective of the experiement was to evaluate the  performance of open pollinated tomato genotypes. Ten open pollinated tomato genotypes were evaluated at on-station research field of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Parwanipur, Bara in the winter seasons of 2015 and 2017, and seven tomato genotypes were evaluated at farmers’ fields of Bara and Parsa districts, Nepal in the winter seasons of 2017 and 2018.The experiments were carried out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results of the on-station experiments showed that HRDTOM084 produced the highest yield (29.1 t/ha in 2015 and 28.5 t/ha in 2017)  and showed consistant performance over the two seasons. It was the superior genotype in terms of yield and yield attributing traits. Tomato genotypes HRDTOM011, HRD109, HRDTOM080 and HRDTOM086 were found vigorous with a score value 5  in 1 to 5 rating scale. The results of the farmers’ field experiment showed that the tomato genotypes HRDTOM084 and HRDTOM085 were found more productive and high yielding compared to other genotypes. The highest yield was produced in HRDTOM084 with a mean of two season yield 49.85 t/ha followed by HRDTOM085 with a mean of two season yield 47.42 t/ha).These genotypes showed moderate resistance to late blight and septoria leaf spot with a score value of 2.3 in 1-5 rating scale. Therefore, HRDTOM084 and HRDTOM085 were the most productive and gave higher yield compared to others.  Hence, these two tomato genotypes can be used by tomato growers under field conditions in Terai region of Nepal.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench) is one of the most important vegetable crops grown in Nepal. The crop is susceptible to various insect pests of which jassids (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida.) is most predominant which reduces production and deteriorates seed quality of okra. A field study was conducted at Horticulture Farm, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal to elucidate the effect of sowing date and nitrogen levels on the population and damage of jassids from April to September 2018. Three levels of nitrogen (100, 200 and 300 kg N ha-1) and five sowing dates (8th April, 20th April, 2nd May, 14th May and 26th May, 2018) were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated that the highest damage score was recorded in okra which was sown on 8th April (2.39) followed by 20th April (2.31) and 2nd May (1.26). The highest damage score of jassids was obtained with the use of nitrogen at the rate of 200 kg ha-1 (1.94) followed by 300 kg/ha (1.72) and 100 kg ha-1 (1.54). Mean population of jassids was maximum with okra sown on 20th April (29.91) and minimum with okra sown on 26th May (6.95). This study showed that late planting i.e. 26th May and applying low level of nitrogen i.e. 100 kg N ha- 1is an effective approach for reducing the jassids population and its damage in okra.