Last year when fungal diseases affected many farms having areca plants, his crop was protected. Crush the nuts of the casaraka tree and add to coconut milk. The combination becomes lethal and appropriate concentrations can be sprayed on different insect pests. Steep one kilo of agava leaves in 10 litres of boiling water in a copper container and allow to stand for 24 hours. Spray the extract on the crop.
Neem oil is mixed with honey in equal proportions and sprayed on the apical part of the tree.
This farmer has also grown organic vanilla on his farm very successfully by interplanting it with coconut and arecanut. If you would like to know about other such farmers and innovators, subscribe to Honeybee, by writing to Dr T N. Prakash, Dept. of Agri. Economics, UAS, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024. The views expressed are personal opinion only and not the official policy of the Maharishi University of Management.