Introduction

Insect pests are major biotic

bottleneck in the production of

crops inflicting on an average

about 30% yield loss amounting

to monetary loss of Rs. 1,00, 000

crores. There is thus ample

scope to enhance our food

production by curtailing losses

due to pests. Only option to

boost our production remains in

growing improved crop cultivars

with better pest management

options.

Importance and Concepts of IPM

Cabbage butterfly damage

Pesticides have played a

commendable role in increasing

our food production and

protecting us against disease

vectors. However sole reliance on

pesticides has created several

problems such as development

resistant pests, pest outbreaks,

mortality of useful organisms,

adverse effect on human health

and environmental degradation.

Adverse effects of pesticides

prompted scientists to look for

safer and environment friendly

methods of pest control and

consequently concept of pest

management came in to being.

Aphid infestation on mustard

Importance

Pest management is known as an

ecological approach to tackle pest

problems because here emphasis is

on containing pests in such a way

that other biotic components of the

system such as natural enemies,

human beings and wild life are not

harmed and environment is

preserved in general. Pest

management also underlines that

pest control tactics should be

socially acceptable and within the

reach of farmers.

Discussion with farmers

Purpose of IPM

To ensure pest suppression and

safety of our environment

To discourage indiscriminate use

of pesticide and conserve natural

enemy fauna

To evolve pest control strategies

based on host plant resistance,

cultural practices, mechanical

methods, natural enemies and

selective pesticides and botanicals

if required.

Honeybees require protection

In IPM different methods of

pest control such as

resistant varieties, cultural

methods, physical methods,

Biological and pesticides are

integrated to suppress pest

populations.

An IPM programme should

be basically based on

conservation of native

natural enemies, cultural

methods and resistant

cultivars and other

management tactics should

be incorporated based on

availability and need.

IPM

DB-Cultural methods

DB-Mechanical Methods

DB-Physical methods

DB-Bio-control methods

DB-Chemical methods

Multipest-modules

Dissemination

insect Disease

nematode weeds

ETL

Multiple pest management programmesIPM Concept

Concepts of IPM

Understanding the agro-

ecosystem

Planning the agro-ecosystem

Cost-benefit and benefit-risk

ratio

Tolerance of pest damage

Leaving a pest residue

Timing of treatments

Public understanding and

acceptanceScientist-farmer interaction

A. Understanding the agro-ecosystem

Agro-ecosystems are simpler than

natural agro-ecosystems. They

contain less diversity of animal

and plant species. Agricultural

ecosystem is actively manipulated

by man. Agro-ecosystems are

more susceptible to pest damage

and outbreaks. Pesticides kill

pests as well their natural

enemies. In the absence of

natural enemies, resistant pests

reach outbreak levels. Secondary

pests also become major pests as

their their natural enemies are

also killed by broad spectrum

pesticides.

Carrot crop

Planning the agro-ecosystem

In pest management pest problems

must be anticipated and avoided

through judicious planning. A crop

variety should not be grown if it is

known to ne highly susceptible.

Multiple cropping with a crop should

not be practiced as it ensures

continuity of pest problem for a

longer period of time.

Mixed cropping and intercropping

should be encouraged as they help to

reduce pest problems.

Tomato + marigold

Coriander and onion intercropped

Cost-benefit and benefit-riskCost-befit refers to monetary benefit

due to pest control efforts. However,

pesticide use should not be

indiscriminate. Both economic

benefit and environment safety are

thus essential. Therefore, such

pesticides be used which do not

harm natural enemies, honey bees,

earthworms and other wild life.

These should not leave harmful

residue on crop produce at the time

of their harvest or their

consumption. Preference thus should

be given to biopesticides like neem,

Bt, NPV etc.

Healthy crop of wheat

Tolerance of pest damageOne should not panic by seeing a few

pests on the crop, because almost all

plants can tolerate some foliage loss

without any appreciable reduction in

crop yield. Economic threshold should

be established for different pests and

crops Should then be regularly

monitored to detect whether pest has

reached damage threshold. If it has

reached only then pesticide be applied.

Besides pests, natural enemies should

also be monitored. In the event of

sufficient natural enemy population,

pesticide application my be avoided or

at least areas with high natural enemy

population should be spared.

Rice planthopper

Leaving a pest residueIPM lays stress on reducing pest

population below economic

threshold level and not on

complete annihilation of the pests.

Because, some pest population is

also required for survival of

natural enemies of pests, which

are important for their

suppression. Natural enemies are

killed by direct contact with broad

spectrum pesticides and also die

due to starvation. Efforts thus

should be made to conserve

natural enemy population.

Blister beetle on bajra

Proper timing of treatments Application of pesticides at right time is

absolutely essential as it can reduce

frequency as well as quantity of

pesticide required for pest suppression.

Pesticide treatments should be based on

pest monitoring when pest population

reaches Economic threshold level.

Unwarranted fixed-schedule applications

should be avoided. It has been proved

that rightly timed one pesticide

application proves more effective than

ill-timed as many as 4-5 applications.

Pesticide application

Public understanding

and acceptanceSeveral IPM programmes have been

developed but their public

acceptance has been very low. Major

reason for this has been found to be

absence of Multi-pest management

programmes. Most of IPM

programmes address single of a

couple of pests, while farmers need

holistic solution to their pest

problems. IPM programme should be

developed in consultation with

farming community and these should

be improved based on their

feedback.

Farmers perception and their socio-

economic conditions should be borne

in mind, while formulation IPM

strategies.

Farmers’ training in monitoring

Let’s Sum upInsect pests are major biotic bottleneck in the production of crops inflicting on an average about 30% yield loss amounting to monetary loss of Rs 1, 00, 000 crores.

Agro-ecosystems are simpler than natural agro-ecosystems.

Pest management is known as an ecological approach to tackle pest problems.

In pest management pest problems must be anticipated and avoided through judicious planning.

Both economic benefit and environment safety are thus essential.

Almost all plants can tolerate some foliage loss without any appreciable reduction in crop yield.

IPM lays stress on reducing pest population below economic threshold level and not on complete annihilation of the pests.

Application of pesticides at right time can reduce frequency as well as quantity of pesticide required for pest suppression.

Farmers perception and their socio-economic conditions should be borne in mind, while formulation IPM strategies.