Farmers tackle pests with Colas

[dipsydoodle]

For farmers in the eastern Indian state of Chhattisgarh it is cheaper than pesticides and gets the job done just as well. The product? Pepsi or Coca-Cola.

Agricultural scientists give them some backing - they say the high sugar content of the drinks can make them effective in combating pests.

>

Farmers in the Durg, Rajnandgaon and Dhamtari districts of Chhattisgarh say they have successfully used Pepsi and Coke to protect their rice plantations against pests.

It is a trend that has been seen in other parts of India, with farmers also using Indian brands of colas.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3977351.stm

And the moral is - if you want to keep yourself free of greenfly drink Cola.

[Arkansas Granny]

1. Quite an interesting prospect. I've passed this along to a couple of gardeners

I know. I'm guessing that it would have the same effect on ornamentals that it does on food crops.

[dipsydoodle]

2. I use it

to clean the hooks , nuts and bracket shoes on 100 year old banjos. Trouble is that if you leave the parts to soak for too long the Cola eats though the nickel silver plating completely which makes me wonder what it does to your stomach.

[jsr]

3. Gastric acid is much stronger than anything in cola

[Arkansas Granny]

4. I don't drink it, but I've heard of people using to clean corroded battery posts, also.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Or else create morbidly obese insects.....

[DetlefK]

6. You can make a snail-trap with beer.

You need some kind of plate with a rim (half an inch of height is enough). Lay it on the ground between your plants and press it into the ground until the upper edge of the rim is approx at ground-level. Fill with beer until it's about a finger's breadth deep.

I don't know why, but during night-time snails will sneak into your swimming-pool of beer.
And die.
If you do this on a daily basis, they will eventually die out.




One spring, some years ago, a hedgehog wandered into my parent's neighborhood and didn't find a way out of the maze of fenced gardens (he eventually did by fall). That summer he strolled through the gardens at night and ate all the snails.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. This really works, but you should be prepared for a really gross sight when you go to empty it.

They look like some kind of alien species and can be an assault on those with tender sensibilities.