ICAR-CICR Deploys AI To Tackle Pink Ball Worms In Punjab
The ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur, has successfully developed and deployed an AI-based smart pheromone trap to tackle the persistent issue of pink bollworms (PBW) in Punjab. This innovative technology, designed for real-time field monitoring, offers a transformative approach to managing PBW, a pest notorious for its resistance to Bt-cotton and its cryptic behaviour that complicates pest control efforts.
First reported in Gujarat in 2015 and Maharashtra in 2017, resistant PBW populations rapidly spread to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan by 2018-19. The problem intensified as cotton stalks stored for fuel became breeding grounds, leading to major outbreaks in Punjab in 2022 and Rajasthan in 2023. PBW infestations significantly reduced cotton yields, with Punjab’s cotton area shrinking from 2.68 lakh hectares in 2018 to just 0.97 lakh hectares in 2024. During this period, production plummeted from 12.2 lakh bales to 4.73 lakh bales, forcing many farmers to abandon cotton cultivation for more profitable crops like paddy, oilseeds and pulses.
To combat these challenges, ICAR-CICR, under the leadership of Dr Y.G. Prasad and Dr K. Rameash, developed an AI-enabled smart pheromone trap. This advanced trap monitors PBW in real-time, sending data—including images, insect counts and weather updates—directly to the cloud and registered users every hour. Powered by a machine learning algorithm (YOLO) with a 96.2% accuracy rate, the technology ensures precise detection and counting of PBW moths. The accompanying Android and desktop applications provide users, including farmers and extension officials, with actionable insights for timely pest management.
The AI smart traps were deployed on a pilot scale across 18 villages in Punjab’s major cotton-growing districts: Mansa, Bathinda and Sri Muktsar Sahib. The project, coordinated by CICR’s regional station in Sirsa under the guidance of Dr Rishi Kumar, and in collaboration with Punjab Agricultural University and the State Agriculture Department, received financial backing from the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage.
Each district was equipped with six smart traps, which provided automated daily alerts and weekly pest management advisories. The project reached 28,190 farmers via 30-second voice messages and utilized mass media, social media and community announcements to disseminate pest control strategies. Farmers were alerted when trap catches exceeded economic threshold levels (ETL), enabling prompt and precise interventions.
The pilot project demonstrated a dramatic reduction in PBW infestation, with pest levels falling from previous highs of 30-65% to under 10% in 2024-25. Despite high trap catches, boll damage remained below ETL in most villages. Farmers using the AI traps required an average of 6.2 insecticide sprays, compared to 10.1 sprays for conventional farmers, achieving a 38.6% reduction in pesticide use while maintaining crop protection.
Farmers in Punjab expressed gratitude for the initiative. Jagdev Singh of Khiali Chahianwali village credited the project for helping him apply pesticides timely, protecting his crop and raising his awareness about pest monitoring. Similarly, Jagseer Singh of Ramgarh Chunga village lauded the Ministry of Agriculture for introducing the technology, which ensured a pest-free yield and boosted his income.
Encouraged by the success of the pilot, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare plans to expand the AI-based pheromone technology to other cotton-growing states for the 2025-26 season.
(Source: ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur)
