author(s)
Anurag Sharma, Renu Kapoor, Rajeev Raina and Kehar Singh Thakur

abstract
Horticulture occupies very important position in the predominantly agricultural economy of western Himalayas. Apple is one of the most important fruit crops of Himachal Pradesh, which constitutes about 49 per cent of the total area under fruit crops and about 85 per cent of the total fruit production. Indian Gypsy moth, Lymantria obfuscata is one of the major pests of apple and apricot in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh feeding on apple foliage. This pest is one of the major causes to affect the quality of apple and production in apple growing areas of District Chamba. Therefore, efforts have been made through front line demonstrations (FLD) to demonstrate the benefits of sex pheromone traps to protect apple from the damage of insect pest and also to increase productivity. The trials were conducted in 2017 and 2018. The results revealed that the cumulative number of adults trapped per pheromone trap throughout the study time from April to June was 210 and 235 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The benefit cost ratio was high in demo (3.03 and 2.80) as compared to check (1.58 and 1.50) in respective years. There was increase in yield in demo over check during both the years. The per cent increase in yield was 37.33 per cent in 2017 and 33.71 per cent in 2018. Technological and extension gaps existed in the district which can be bridged by popularizing package of practices and location specific integrated approaches.