Integrated Pest Management for Safe And Judicious Use of Pesticides
The Government is popularizing the strategy of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) through a Central Sector Scheme “Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India” which includes cultural, mechanical, biological and other methods of pest control and emphasizes safe and judicious use of pesticides.
At national level, impact of IPM has been observed through the following indicators:-
i. Increase in crop yield from 6.72 to 40.14% in rice and from 22.7 to 26.63% in cotton in IPM fields compared to non-IPM fields.
ii. Chemical pesticide spray was found to have reduced to the extent of 50 - 100% in rice and 29.96 – 50.5% in cotton in IPM fields compared to non-IPM fields.
iii. Net gain in farm income of farmers was found to have increased in the IPM fields as compared to the farmers practices.
iv. Use of biopesticides /neem based pesticides increased from 123 MT during 1994-95 to 8,110 MT during 2011-12, and that the consumption of chemical pesticide in the country has reduced from 75,033 MT (Technical Grade) in 1990-91 to 50,583 MT (Technical Grade) in 2011-12.
Under the ambit of IPM programme, the Government has established 31 Central IPM Centres in 28 State and one UT. The mandate of these Centres is pest/disease monitoring, production and release of bio-control agents/bio-pesticides, conservation of bio-control agents and Human Resource Development in IPM by imparting training to Agriculture/Horticulture Extension Officers and farmers at grass root level by organizing Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) in farmers’ fields.
The basic aim of FFS is to train the farmers on the latest IPM technology so that they are able to take decision in pest management operation. Besides, large number of locally available bio-control agents are augmented from field to field based on the requirement. Major emphasis is given on judicious use of chemical pesticide as a last resort and safety in use of pesticides, alternate tools for pest management viz; cultural, physical, mechanical methods of pest control as well as use of biopesticides and biocontrol agents, effects of pesticides on natural enemies of pests, do’s and don’ts of pesticide use including proper application equipment and the technique. FFSs are run by trained personnel to train 30 farmers and 5 Agricultural Extension Officers (AEOs) for 14 weeks. At the end of training, Kisan Mela is organized at the FFS site to popularize the IPM approach among neighbouring farmers.
So far, upto the year 2011-12 the Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage(DPPQ&S), an attached organisation of Ministry of Agriculture, has organized 13,991 Nos. of Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) wherein 57,962 Agriculture / Horticulture Extension Officers and 4,20,720 farmers in different crops have been trained on latest IPM technology in various crops.
The National Institute of Plant Heath Management, an autonomous body under Ministry of Agriculture has in the recent past adopted 27 villages where field service training was conducted involving officer trainees in Plant Protection. The farmers of these villages have benefited by adoption of IPM technologies.
The Institute also developed low cost agricultural plant protection implements viz., hand shake duster, wick weed applicator and swing sack granular applicator, and other appropriate technologies such as solar assisted low volume sprayer, battery operated backpack sprayer, etc. These appliances were popularized among farmers for control of brown plant hopper, weed management, low and effective application of granular formulations, and for judicious application of pesticides.
Under the National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) scheme, financial assistance is being provided for setting up of fruit/ vegetable market waste/ agro-waste compost production unit for the capacity of 100 tonnes Per Day (TPD) through NABARD as credit linked back-ended subsidy to the tune of 33% of total financial outlay restricted to Rs. 60.00 lakh whichever is less.
This information was given in Lok Sabha today by Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Shri Tariq Anwar in a written reply.
MP: DS: CP: pesticides (5.3.2013)