Horticultural crops play a significant role in the total agricultural production and also in our country’s economy. Due to the wide and rich diversity in the agro climate conditions, a large variety of horticultural crops including minor or under-utilized fruits are grown in the country in different seasons in different regions. Pomegranate, Ber, Fig, Custard apple, Jamun and Bael are some of the minor fruit crops cultivated in small areas but fetch a good market price. Minor fruit crops are in general hardy and grow well even in fragile soil and climate and having potential for intensive exploitation. Attacks by deadly pests and diseases are relatively less in many of these crops. However some pests and cause serious loss to the crop and management of these pests may definitely benefit the grower. The major pests that cause economic damage on minor fruit crops include fruit borers, fruit flies sucking pests such as thrips, mealy bugs. Bark eating caterpillars and stem borers are major pests in neglected orchards. The major disease include powdery mildew, leaf spots and fruit rot.
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