Be Nature Friendly to Adopt IPM

1.    Don’t disturb nature, let the nature do it’s work.

2.    Provide solution through nature.

3.    Let’s allow to manage pests through nature.

4.  Keep surveillance to note what is happening in the agro-eco-system then adopt intervention.

5.    Facilitate the nature to do it’s work.

6. Don’t kill any organism (pest) in nature unless it is absolutely essential.

7.    Don’t live on the cost of life of other organisms.

8.  Conserve the beneficial fauna of the nature which helps to regulate harmful fauna.

9.    Our survival depends upon the nature, hence be nature friendly for our survival.

10.    Try to fit ourselves within the framework of nature.

Live & let live

Let’s understand Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

1.    Each and every stakeholder associated with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) understood it in their own ways, choice and the interest of their work in which they are involved leaving behind the actual objectives of IPM which are expected with IPM.

2.    The main objective of IPM is to produce bumper and safe harvest with minimum expenditure and least disturbance to environment and eco-system. The mind-sets of different stake holders are not integrated so far to achieve these objectives.

3.    IPM is not a single method of pest management but it is a set of different management practices to maintain pest population below economic threshold level by adopting affordable, feasible and acceptable “Good Agricultural Practices” aiming chemical methods as last resort as no single methods is useful for this purpose.

4.  IPM is total crop health management system based on certain ecological, physiological, sociological and economical parameters.

5.    Any intervention and practice which is involved for the production of bumper and safe crop harvest comes under integrated pest management because it is also associated with crop health and management of pest population.

6.    As described above that IPM is understood by various stake holders in different ways as in a story of six blind men holding different body parts of an elephant like tail, leg, body, ear, trunk, and tusks thinking that an elephant is like a rope, pole, wall, fan, snake and spears respectively but an elephant is not like a single body part as understood by them, it is a big animal having these body parts. So, IPM is not a single component of pest management but it’s a complete package of crop production system because each and every practice of crop production system is closely related with pest management also.

7.    Now a days, Certain components of IPM are misused and some very important components are ignored. Let us understand the priority and importance of different components to promote them as per the scientific needs keeping in view of Bio-security threats and environmental and ecological safety.

8.    Let us understand the ground reality i.e., Farmers and environmental need first and make IPM strategy better suited with ecosystem, environment, farmers need and safe to human, cattle and wild life health.

9.    Let us think how we can provide safe food, fresh air and fresh drinking water to our countrymen and safe fodder to cattle and animals through implementation of IPM.

10. Let us think beyond our interest and think about humanity, nature and environment before implementing IPM. 

Pest

                           Any organism which is economically harmful to man is called as pest but ecologically none of organism in this universe is a pest. They are innocent animals and units of eco-system contributing a lot to sustain the eco-system. Man is sitting at the top of eco-system destroying it continuously for his survival and comfort. If any organism behaves like a pest, it behaves due to provocative conditions created by man.

Control of cotton mealy bug in Punjab during 2007-08 through IPM

The cotton is an important cash crop of Punjab and it is grown in 5.50 to 6.50 lakh ha area.  The cotton crop is attacked by number of pests at different stages and consumes more than 50% pesticides of total pesticides used in Indian Agriculture. The mealy bug, Phenacoccus  solenopsis   caused severe damage to cotton crop in Punjab during 2007-08 and it emerged as new threat to cotton crop in North India.

It is a polyphagous in nature and feeds on many host plants. The congress grass (Parthenium hysterophorus) has been recorded as a major host of this pest which initially multiplies on it and later migrates to cotton crop. Both crawlers and adults suck the sap from the leaves, stem, shoot and other parts of the plant. The severe infestation retards growth, late opening of the bolls which ultimately affect the yield also.

ESTIMATED  LOSS DUE TO MEALY BUG:

Factor	Yield (Qtl./ha)	Total cost (Output)	Increased cost of production	Net Profit
Non- mealy bug affected crop	20 @ Rs.2300/Qtl	Rs. 46,000	Nil	Rs. 46,000
Mealy bug affected crop	19 @ Rs.2300/Qtl	Rs.43,700	Rs.2,000/ha	Rs.41,700
Total loss	01 @ Rs.2300/Qtl	Rs.2300	Rs.2,000	Rs. 4,300

                 The mealy bug has caused a loss of one qtl/ha yield on an average and enhanced the cost of cultivation by Rs. 2,000/ha (3-4 sprays extra for mealy bug control) which has caused a loss of Rs 4,300 per hectare to the farmers. There was about 3.0 lakh ha area affected with mealy bug during 2007. The minimum estimated total loss caused by a single pest is about Rs.129 Crores to cotton growers during Kharif season of 2007 in Punjab.

IPM strategies: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is best suited for safe and sustainable agriculture. The mealy bug was successfully controlled in Punjab during 2008-09 by adopting IPM strategies and combined sincere efforts by CIPMC, Jalandhar, State Deptt. Of Agriculture, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana and NCIPM, New Delhi. The following off season and crop season IPM strategies have considerable contributed in the management of cotton mealy bug: 

 (i). Management of alternate hosts:

1.       Weed eradication campaign on community basis was launched during the off season of cotton i.e. January to March from field bunds, water channels, waste land of the cotton growing areas because Congress grass and Kangi booti serve as main alternate host for primary spread of this pest. In some places, school children were involved in mechanical control of Parthenium from road side, vacant land and water channel etc. adjacent to cotton field. 

2.    Infested host plant/ weeds were burnt and advised not to throw in canals and water channels to prevent the further spread of mealy bug. 

(ii). Monitoring of mealy bug population and demonstration of IPM:

Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India sanctioned Rs.130 lakhs for taking up the campaign management of mealy bug of cotton in Punjab vide letter no.3-8/2007.PP; dated 15.02.08. The collaborative project was sanction to different agencies to take up following activities:

i.                     NCIPM, New Delhi for training and providing technical guidance

ii.                   CIPMC, Jalandhar for mealy bug surveillance

iii.                  State Deptt. Of Agriculture for creating awareness among the cotton growers.

CIPMC, Jalandhar employed 08 Senior Research Fellows and 40 Field scouts during 2008-09 for monitoring of mealy bug population and organized IPM demonstration plots.  One SRF and 4 to 6 Field Scouts per district were deputed in eight districts under the control of Chief Agriculture Officers of respective districts.   The SRF submitted weekly Surveillance Report on Mealy bug of his district to Chief Agriculture Officer and CIPMC, Jalandhar. The compiled report of mealy bug situation was regularly submitted on every Friday to Director of Agriculture, DD (Cotton), Punjab and Dte of PPQS, Faridabad.  The detailed Weekly data was also provided by the SRFs to NCIPM (ICAR), New Delhi by mail on every Friday for further analysis which was available at their website www.ncipm.org.in.  When cotton crop was over, this team was engaged in the post harvest management of mealy bug and collection of data from the farmers.

(iii). Crop season IPM strategies:  The farmers were advised to adopt following IPM strategies during cotton growing season:

1.       The clean cultivation was encouraged to checks the secondary spread of diseases as well as pests.

2.       Non preferred host like Jowar, Bajra and maize should be sown on boundary lines, so that its infestation should be checked from adjoining fields/weeds.

3.       Do not grow Okra and Guar in or around the cotton crop being most suitable hosts. 

4.       Weeds like Congress grass, Kangi Booti, Peeli Booti, Puthkanda, Gutputna, Bhakra, Itsit and Tandla should be removed to check the multiplication of mealy bug.

5.       Initially, the mealy bug appears in patches and concentrated on the border rows towards boundary side plants. Hence, it can be easily controlled through strict surveillance, mechanically and spot application of the chemical. It will also conserve the natural enemies. 

6.       Fine spray should be done with triple action nozzle for fine spray discharge.

7.       Stem, leaves and soil around the stem should be drenched thoroughly by using sufficient quantity of water with recommended pesticides.

8.       Use recommended pesticides if population is above Economic Threshold Level.

9.       Do not use mixtures and unrecommended insecticides.

10.   The second spray should be from the different group of recommended pesticides depending upon the pest population.

11.   Monitoring and surveillance of the cotton field is very necessary to take appropriate action at proper time.

12.   The community approach is very important to save the cotton crop from mealy bug attack.

(iv).Biological control: It is the best approach to manage the pest as long term control measures. The natural parasites and predators of mealy bug were conserved and augmented to keep the population below economic threshold level. Interestingly, Aenasius bambawalei (Chalcidodea : Encryitidae), a potential bio-control agent control the population upto 50-60% in the field during 2008-09. The farmers were advised to augment this agent in non-available cotton fields.

(v). Management of cotton sticks:

1.       Infested cotton sticks were made free from mealy bugs before piling them by shredding the cotton sticks against the ground and these destroyed by burying in the soil or use of insecticide. So that hibernation of mealy bug was checked.

2.       Farmers were advised to consume the infested sticks as fuel before the end of February.

3.       The movements of sticks from the infested areas to the new areas were prevented.

(vi).  Awareness programme:

1.         Farmers awareness camps were organized in the  villages by the CIPMC with the help of SRFs, field scouts, ADOs and progressive farmers during the pre sowing season to take up the sanitation measures to remove the weeds (mainly Parthenium sp. which is a major host) and during the crop season.

2.          The publicity material was displayed through hoardings at common places in the villages, town and cities.

3.         The awareness campaign was strengthened through advertisement in News Papers (in Punjabi), local cable and Doordarshan.

4.         320 villages were adopted by SRFs and  field scouts under surveillance programme for fixed plots survey and awareness programme of mealy bug.

Conclusion: The farmers became well aware about the mealy bug management and this pest was managed very efficiently in 2009-10 through sanitation, population monitoring, biological control and spot application of chemicals. There was the reduction of pesticide use also in cotton due to spot application of pesticide for the management of mealy bug. It shows that IPM strategies and sincere efforts of CIPMC, Jalandhar along with State Govt. of Agriculture have effectively controlled the mealy bug infestation in 2008-09 and at present it is considered as a miner pest in Punjab.

(Courtesy by Dr. Jasvir Singh, Dy. Director (Ent.), Dte of PPQS, Faridabad)

How pesticides are being misused in agro eco-system

1. Pesticides are being recommended as the first resort for managing pest population, whereas, they should be used as last resort.
2. Pesticides are being used as preventive measure even when those are not required.
3. Pesticides are not being used as per the recommendation of CIB&RC.
4. Farmers rather use pesticides repeatedly in regular interval even when those are not required.  
5. Farmers are using the cocktail different pesticides without knowing their compatibilities.
6. Pesticides are used on the recommendation of non-technical pesticides dealers in reality.
7. Pesticides are being purchased and stored in bulk before on set of crop season.
8. Pesticides are used on crops on competition basis among farmers and are considered as status symbol.
9. Pesticides are not applied after observing the crop eco-system.
10. Pesticides are not applied considering the natural control process or their ill effect on existing beneficial fauna in agro eco-system.

General Strategy of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Pests & Diseases

IPM DEPEND UPON

Ø Intensive pest & crop surveillance.

Ø To ensure IPM inputs timely to the farmers.

Ø Empowerment of farmers.

Ø Involve and mobilize farmers for understanding and practicing IPM.

Ø Integration of mind set of all IPM stake holders that chemical pesticides are harmful to human being, other organisms and environment.

Ø Be proactive for making planning and preparedness.

Ø To make suitable strategy in advance.

Ø  Study Agro-eco-system before practicing the interventions.

Ø Rejuvenate the age old pest management practices for validation.

Ø Diagnose and identify the life stages and symptoms of pests.

New dimensions in Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

   1.      Pest Surveillance:

Manual surveillance needs to be replaced with e-pest surveillance to reduce lead time of pest/disease detection and adoption of intervention for their management.

   2.       Analysis of Pesticides residue from agricultural produced

A national project on pesticide residue analysis named as “Monitoring of Pesticides Residue at National Level (MPRNL) is working on this aspect. Comparative studies of pesticide residue on IPM & Non-IPM produces are required to be conducted.

   3.       Increasing trend of consumption of Bio-pesticides

The consumption of chemical pesticides needs to be replaced with Bio-pesticides. The consumption of Bio-pesticide is now in increasing trend from 123 MT in 1994-95 to 6,500 MT in 2011-12.

   4.       Disposal of used Pesticides containers

Triple rinsing of containers after use is needed. A national project for the disposal of used Pesticides containers is needed.

Empowering Farmers through I.P.M Farmers Field Schools

एकीकृत नाशीजीव प्रबंधन / इन्‍टीग्रेटेड पेस्‍ट मैनेजमेन्‍ट  (आई.पी.एम.) किसान खेत पाठशाला – परिभाषा एवं उददेश्‍य  

 “एकीकृत नाशीजीव प्रबंधन / इन्‍टीग्रेटेड पेस्‍ट मैनेजमेन्‍ट  (आई.पी.एम.) किसान खेत पाठशाला” एक अनौपचारिक शिक्षा पद्वति है जिसके माध्‍यम से किसानों को उनके अनुभवों को समाहित करते हुए खेतों में ही वैज्ञानिक कृषि पद्वति से स्‍वयं करके सीखने की प्रक्रिया द्वारा एकीकृत नाशीजीव प्रबंधन के बारे में प्रशिक्षित किया जाता है ताकि वे अपने खेतों की कृषि क्रियाओं के बारे में स्‍वयं निर्णय ले सकें ।  

Integrated Pest Management-an Eco-friendly Approach

Pests are one of the major constraints in production of different crops in all the agro-climatic zones. Reliance on chemical pesticides is in no way a complete solution for the pest vagaries. Injudicious use of these pesticides is not only pose a threat to the environment but also proving as a health hazard. Therefore, the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which is an eco-friendly approach to keep the pests population below Economic Threshold Level by employing all available alternate pest control strategies and techniques such as cultural, mechanical and biological with emphasis on the use of bio-pesticides and pesticides of plant origin like neem formulations need to be intensified. The concept of IPM does not preclude use of chemical pesticides, rather impresses upon need based judicious use of such pesticides. In order to minimize the use of  hazardous chemical pesticides & to prevent/ manage the insect pests / diseases attack as well as to increase the crop productivity, IPM activities have been included under the scheme “Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India” since 1991-92. Under the ambit of IPM programme, the Govt. of India has established 31 Central IPM Centres in 28 States and one UT. These centres are taking up the following activities:

IPM Concept

आई.पी.एम अवधारणा

1.         कीटनाशक हमारे स्‍वास्‍थ्‍य एवं पर्यावरण की परवाह नहीं करते हैं ।

Pesticides do not care for our health and environment.

2.        नाशीजीवों का नियंत्रण नहीं करना चाहिए बल्‍कि उनकी संख्‍या को आर्थिक हानि स्‍तर के नीचे प्रबंधित करना चाहिए ।

      Pests are not to be controlled but their population should be managed 
      below ETL.

3.         नाशीजीवों की संख्‍या को किसी भी तरीके से इस हद तक कम कर देना कि उससे होने वाला नुकसान नगण्‍य हो या कम से कम हो ।

Suppression of population of a pest by any mean to a level at which the harm is inflicted to insignificant or minor.

4.         आई.पी.एम नाशीजीव प्रबंधन की विभिन्‍न विधियों का एक सैट है जिनसे 
      नाशीजीवों की संख्‍या को आर्थिक क्षति स्‍तर तक सीमित रखा जाता है ।

IPM is a set of different pest management practices through which the pest population is maintained below economic threshold level.