African snail infestation threatens cardamom plantations in Idukki

A massive infestation of African snails is posing a severe threat to cardamom plantations in the Bison Valley panchayat of Idukki.

According to Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) officials, the snail attack has affected six wards of the panchayat, causing large-scale cardamom damage. An expert team from KAU visited the farmers to demonstrate methods to prevent snail infestation.

R. Narayana, associate professor of the Department of Nematology, KAU, Vellayani, who led the visit, said, “Plantations in Bison Valley are filled with dried leaves and organic waste, which provide an ideal habitat for the snails to breed. Only a joint effort by all farmers in the area can curb this menace. We demonstrated how to use food traps to attract and destroy the snails.”