A massive pest outbreak has dashed garlic farmers’ hopes—spraying pesticides to control the infestation has proven futile!

　　Over the past two days, garlic farmers in Qixian County, Kaifeng, have been posting photos and videos reporting severe pest infestations on their several acres of garlic, with many seedlings turning yellow and dying.
　　According to reports, pest infestations of varying severity have now spread to surrounding townships, including Sumu Township and Xingkou Town in Qixian County, Kaifeng. Newly sprouted garlic seedlings have been ravaged by pests in just a few days, leaving them in a pitiful state, and turning from green to yellow within three to five days. Although many garlic farmers applied pesticides at the onset of the outbreak, they were disappointed to find that even two rounds of treatment failed to bring the problem under control. With this year’s harvest looking certain to be a total loss, most garlic growers are left with no viable options.
　　A massive pest outbreak has dashed garlic farmers’ hopes—spraying pesticides to control the infestation has proven futile!
　　A massive pest outbreak has shattered garlic farmers’ hopes.
　　Qixian County in Kaifeng is a major garlic-producing region, with a cultivation area of approximately 700,000 mu.
　　This year, due to the decline in garlic prices, most garlic farmers have reduced their planting acreage accordingly. Meanwhile, some who are reluctant to grow garlic have no better cash crops to substitute for it and thus continue to cultivate it.
　　During the interview, some garlic farmers noted that despite the reduction in planted acreage, they remain highly optimistic about garlic cultivation, hoping that sound management practices will boost per‑acre yields and enable them to maintain output even as acreage declines.
　　In terms of input costs, soaring prices for agricultural supplies have pushed garlic‑planting expenses higher than in previous years. At the same time, to cut costs, many garlic farmers handle everything themselves—from preparing fertilizer and plowing the fields to building ridges, digging furrows, planting the garlic, irrigating it, spraying herbicides, and laying plastic mulch—rather than hiring labor. They figure that a bit more hard work is no big deal; as long as they can trim their investment and fetch a good price next year, their efforts will have paid off.
　　However, unexpectedly, just as garlic farmers were brimming with hope for a bountiful harvest, a pest infestation nearly extinguished all their aspirations.
　　At present, in several townships of Qixian County, Kaifeng, nearly a thousand mu of garlic has been affected to varying degrees by small insects. As far as the eye can see, the newly sprouted garlic seedlings look sickly and listless, standing forlornly in the fields—a sight that tugs at the heart. “We didn’t see these pests last year; there was one outbreak in April this year, and now they’re back again. There are just so many of them, they spread quickly, and even two rounds of pesticide application haven’t been enough to control them,” said many garlic farmers.
　　“Nothing can be used as medicine” is Pesticide A weak point
　　Looking back over the past few years, pest and disease outbreaks have largely been sudden and unexpected. By the time farmers recognize the need for control measures, crops have already suffered damage, and at that point, many… Pesticide It simply can’t be controlled, and the pests won’t die—so at times like these, effective pesticides are in extremely short supply!
　　In addition, in plant protection and pest management, prevention is paramount, and integrated pest management is the preferred approach. However, given that smallholder farming—characterized by individual, family‑run operations—remains the dominant model in China, these farmers are difficult to manage and often struggle to implement scientifically sound cultivation practices and judicious pesticide use as recommended by experts.
　　Moreover, outbreaks of pests and diseases are fleeting, lasting only a short time. Even when the control methods and appropriate pesticides are known, only a small fraction can be salvaged within the limited window of effectiveness. In addition, due to our country… Pesticide The registration scope is primarily concentrated on major crops, accounting for more than 70% of the total number of registrations, whereas less popular or minor crops… Pesticide However, product registrations are extremely limited; at present, more than 100 varieties of vegetables and other minor crops have no approved pesticides available, and even for garlic, the range of approved products is relatively small. From China… Pesticide According to information available online, there are currently only four insecticides registered for use on garlic.
　　A massive pest outbreak has dashed garlic farmers’ hopes—spraying pesticides to control the infestation has proven futile!
　　Therefore, in actual production, when these minor crops are attacked by pests, diseases, or weeds, producers typically rely on experience for control measures, which not only easily leads to… Pesticide Misuse leads to phytotoxicity and yields very limited control efficacy.
　　In this situation, our country has already moved swiftly to make improvements. Pesticide Registration status, assurance Pesticide The balance of registered varieties, ensuring Pesticide Diversification of varieties helps alleviate the situation of drug shortages and inappropriate use.
　　For businesses, the more there is a lack of available solutions, the greater the challenges and opportunities. Faced with the substantial untapped market for minor crops, companies can proactively pursue registration to create new sources of profit growth.
　　Several Recommendations for Controlling Pest Outbreaks
　　At present, a pest outbreak has occurred across thousands of mu of garlic fields in Kaifeng, attributable to several factors, broadly summarized as follows:
　　1. When planting garlic, excessively high temperatures combined with the use of plastic mulch can easily promote the development of pathogens and pests.
　　2. For many years, garlic farmers have planted garlic crop after crop; this continuous monoculture has led to the gradual worsening of certain diseases and pests.
　　3. In recent years Pesticide Misuse leads to pest resistance, creating a vicious cycle in which infestations grow increasingly severe—and once an outbreak occurs, they become impossible to control.
　　In fact, for garlic, the main pests include root maggots, leaf miners, grubs, leaf‑mining flies, thrips, seed flies, and root mites. Among these, root maggots are the most common. So what exactly is this year’s pest? According to expert specialists, it consists of a species of late‑eye fungus gnats and certain ground‑dwelling seed flies.
　　So, how can these pests be controlled and managed?
　　Associate Professor Shao Xiuli of Henan Agricultural Vocational College recommends rotating applications of pyrethroid insecticides, the biopesticide flonicamid, and other products effective against these pests. Additionally, adding a small amount of laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid to the spray solution can enhance its adhesion, helping it remain on the garlic leaves for a longer period. Moreover, since these pests thrive in warm, sunny conditions, it’s best to apply the spray after 10 a.m., when they emerge to feed, and only when there is no wind. Given that infestations develop rapidly and cause significant damage, garlic growers are advised to act promptly by applying systemic treatments to salvage any dead seedlings.
　　Although garlic prices have been wildly fluctuating over the past two years, leaving farmers anxious, we still urge all garlic growers to: first, follow natural agricultural principles by planting according to the season and thoroughly tilling and preparing the soil before sowing, followed by sun-drying to eliminate pests, thereby preventing unnecessary diseases; second, when applying pesticides, keep in mind three “don’ts”: do not apply multiple treatments too frequently. Pesticide Use them together; do not use one frequently. Pesticide Use it multiple times per season; do not exceed the recommended dosage or use it for conditions it is not indicated for. If you encounter any issues, consult a healthcare professional and avoid self‑medication.

Source: Agrochemicals & Markets Magazine