ICT based application where observation of crop pests and noted by field functionary were analysed by scientists at other end and management practices disseminated through advisory msg

Although initially it was planned to develop surveillance program for four to five districts that could serve as potential foci for the pest spread, the facts such as increased area under soybean on equivalent scale with cotton, common pest status of S. litura on cotton as well as soybean and vulnerability of cotton to S. litura necessitated the program expansion for both the crops followed by inclusion of pigeonpea and the rabi crop of chickpea6 . Since 2011, the rice grown as kharif crop was also included under the surveillance based pest management advisory programme. Creation of awareness among farmers of Maharashtra across all target crops under pest surveillance vis a vis issuing of real time pest management advisories using ICT tools are continuous. The SDA, Maharashtra is the CROPSAP implementation authority with the funding through RKVY of Central Government till 2012 followed by Government of Maharashtra from 2013 till date.