Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an eco-friendly approach which aims at keeping pest population at below economic threshold levels by employing all available alternate pest control methods and techniques such as cultural, mechanical and biological with emphasis on use of bio-pesticides and pesticides of plant origin like Neem formulations.

The use of chemical pesticides is advised as a measure of last resort when pest population in the crop crosses economic threshold levels (ETL). IPM is aimed at suppression of pest population below economic threshold level through the adoption of feasible and affordable Good Agricultural Practices and causing least disturbance to the eco system and environment.

Body:

As per United Nation’s Food’ and Agriculture Organization (FAO), IPM is defined as: “The careful consideration of all available pest control technique’s and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels that are economically justified and reduce or minimize risks to human health and the environment. IPM emphasizes the growth of a healthy crop with the’ least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanism”. 

Constraints involved in IPM:

• More involvement in the technicalities of the method
  • Individual farmers and all those involved in IPM have to be educated about their options in the various methods available, which often take time.
• Time and energy consuming
  • Application of IPM takes time and has to be closely monitored, as the practice of IPM has many different methods integrated in order to provide the most effective pest control methods.
• Different pests have different control methods, and it is necessary to monitor which methods are the best for specific pests.
• Initially complicated decision-making.
• Crop monitoring results that can be difficult to interpret.
• Lack of market rewards for IPM grown product.
• Limited market tolerance to blemishes

ICAR-National Research Centre for Integrated Pest Management (NCIPM), India was established in February, 1988 to cater to the plant protection needs of different agro-ecological zones of the country.

Conclusion:

The increasing cost of plant protection and accelerating pest incidents make agriculture a risky and less profitable enterprise. At the same time the toxic materials generated from chemical farming pollute the environment and harm consumers’ and farmers’ health. Additionally, from the viewpoint of sustainability, attaining growth while maintaining the natural capital intact, IPM is superior compared to conventional farming. It should, therefore be appreciated and encouraged to a greater extent both by governments and NGOs’.

Extra information: Case Study: integrated pest management in Cotton at Ashta village, Nanded district (Marathwada region), Maharashtra.

The general impacts of the Ashta IPM are as below:

• Conservation and enhancement in  the   activity of  the   natural enemies (predators and   parasites)
• Reduction in the    quantity of   chemical insecticides used
• Environmental safety as evident by   increase in the number of bird population in the crop.
• Compensatory yields and higher net returns