author(s)
K Revathi and P Sudha Jacob

abstract
On farm trials in ten locations were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of cost effective and eco friendly IPM strategies for the management of fruit borers in tomato and to create awareness among the farmers during rabi, 2014-15 to 2016-17 in the farmer’s fields in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh. Fruit borers cause major damage to tomato causing reduction in production. Indiscriminate use of insecticides has resulted in negative effects like insecticide residues in the fruits, resistance development in insects against insecticides and pest resurgence etc. By adoption of IPM practices in three consecutive years, fruit borer damage was reduced on an average by 9.73 per cent compared to 16.7 per cent in farmers practice and the yield levels improved by 5.92 per cent on an average in three years compared to farmers practice. The average cost of cultivation was reduced by Rs. 9662.00 and net returns improved on an average by Rs.34612.00 per hectare compared to famers practice, thus showing the superiority of IPM practices in helping the farmers in realization of high net returns in tomato cultivation.