Chilli has always held an important position in the vegetable market. However, fruit borers are one of the main pests in chilli farms. They hide inside the fruit and feed on the internal tissues after hatching, causing major harvest losses. Therefore, to control fruit borers effectively, farmers must not only apply pesticides at the right time, but also rotate different insecticides correctly.

In Malaysia, chilli is an indispensable seasoning on every household dining table. Every day, whether it is a family meal or the demand from hawker food stalls, the chilli market remains lively. However, behind this continuous supply is the careful management of farmers and their years of planting experience.

Heavy Rain Brings Pest Pressure

Among common chilli pests in Malaysia, chilli varieties face many types of pests, including chilli fruit borers and caterpillars. Compared with fruit borers, caterpillars are easier to control.

However, last year’s weather brought many challenges to chilli growers. Bad weather conditions caused many chilli farms to face various problems. The main chilli pests include three types: thrips, whiteflies, and fruit borers. Among them, fruit borers can be especially troublesome after heavy rain. Therefore, farmers must use pesticides carefully, while also paying attention to pest occurrence and avoiding unnecessary pesticide waste.

Farmers Must Take Early Action

Fruit borers are one of the most troublesome pests in chilli farms. They lay eggs on chilli fruits, and after the larvae hatch, they bore into the fruit and feed inside. Therefore, if farmers want to control fruit borers, they must use the right pesticide at the correct timing.

Fruit borers mainly damage chilli fruits. Once they feed inside the fruit, the fruit becomes unsuitable for harvest and may also lead to heavy pest reproduction during the flowering stage.

Preventive control is one of the important points in agriculture. Farmers must apply pesticides early during the fruit borer season, otherwise the fruit borers will hide inside the chilli fruit and make control more difficult.

Using suitable pesticides and rotating different insecticides can help prevent resistance. Advansia’s sales representative and technical team have been working closely with farmers in chilli-growing areas. A chilli grower from Gua Musang shared that after adopting Advansia’s recommended fruit borer prevention plan, he achieved good results.

According to his experience, he used Spinosad 2.38SC at 20ml, Indoxacarb 15.84EC at 10ml, and Lufenuron 5.2EC at 20ml, mixed with 20 litres of water. By rotating these products, he was able to effectively control chilli fruit borers.

Overall, although chilli cultivation faces many challenges, farmers remain positive and continue to work hard to overcome different difficulties. Under their dedication, quality chillies can continue to appear on dining tables, which is the best reward for their hard work.