Status of IPM in Indian Agriculture: A Need for Better Adoption

Ranga Rao, G V and Rao, V R (2010) Status of IPM in Indian Agriculture: A Need for Better Adoption. Indian Journal of Plant Protection, 38 (2). pp. 115-121. ISSN 0253-4355

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Abstract

Insect pests are well recognized as one of the major limiting factors in enhancing and sustaining agricultural production in India. Recent improvements from research brought considerable change in the cropping systems and allowed farmers to grow several crops throughout the year, which were very seasonal in the past. This also brought significant shift in the insect population dynamics and change in the status of several insect pests. Recent interactions with the farming communities revealed that 93% of the farmers in India had adopted chemical control, 51% farmers get their plant protection advice from dealers, while 22% from extension officials and majority of the farmers (73%) initiate the plant protection based on the first appearance of the pest, irrespective of their population, crop stage, and their damage relationships. The cost of plant protection on various crops ranged from 7 to 40% of the total crop production cost. Though integrated pest management (IPM) has been advocated for the past two decades, only 3.2% of the farmers adopted IPM practices in various crops. IPM research in the past decade brought out changes in the farmers’ attitude in pest management, which resulted 20100% reduction in pesticide use in different crops. The recent farmer participatory approach working in a consortium mode proved very effective in the exchange of technology. Though the results are encouraging, there is a need to further strengthen the IPM adoption in Indian agriculture through increased investments in both basic as well as applied research in plant protection to overcome the prevailing three evil “Rs” (Resistance, Resurgence, and Residues). To be more effective, readdressing the policies for encouraging eco-friendly options and strengthening extension, involving farmers should be considered as high priority.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, Scirtothrips dorsalis, Empoasca kerri, groundnut, neonicotinoids.
Subjects:	Others > Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
Depositing User:	Ms K Syamalamba
Date Deposited:	16 Dec 2011 11:25
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2011 11:25
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/5008
Official URL:	http://indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:ij...
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Author

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