Black thrips threaten Karnataka's chilli farms, prompting government response

The invasive black thrips pest is devastating chilli crops across Karnataka, especially in Raichur, and officials are debating the adequacy of current control measures.

Black thrips, first identified on papaya in Bengaluru in 2015, have spread rapidly to Karnataka's chilli-growing regions, becoming the primary pest in districts such as Raichur, where they account for over 94% of thrips populations. A 2024 survey documented an average of 14.73 thrips per plant in Raichur, indicating severe damage. The issue was raised in Parliament by Raichur MP G Kumar Naik, who questioned compensation and protective measures; Union Minister of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur acknowledged the problem but noted the absence of detailed loss data.

The Centre pointed to integrated pest management, climate-resilient varieties, expanded crop-insurance coverage and a 24% rise in per-acre financing for the 2026-27 season. Nonetheless, Naik warned that the current approach places too much burden on farmers, calling for stronger scientific support and coordinated interventions. Entomologists at ICAR-IIHR claim that sustained outreach and early transplanting have cut thrips counts from over 100 per plant in 2021 to fewer than 15 now, suggesting that timely agronomic practices can mitigate outbreaks.