INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

An increasing number of pest control exports believe that the best way to control pest is a carefully design Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programme. In this approach each crop and each pest are evaluated as an ecological system. Then a control Programme is developed that uses a mix of cultivation, biological and chemical methods in proper sequence and with proper timing.

The overall aim of IPM is not eradication of pest population but maintenance at just below economically damaging levels. Fields are carefully monitored when a damaging levels is reached, farmers first use biological and cultivation controls, including vacuuming of harmful bugs. Small amount of insecticides mostly botanical or micro-botanical are applied when absolutely necessary. Varying the chemicals helps to slow development of genetic resistance. This approach allows farmers to avoid pesticide trade mill will minimizing chemical hazards to human health, wildlife and the environment.

The experiences of countries such as China, Brazil, Indonesia and U.S have shown that well designed IPM Programme can reduce pesticides use and pest control by 50-90%. IPM can also reduce pre-harvest pest induced crop losses by 50%. Thus, IPM is an important form of pollution prevention that reduces.

However, IPM requires the expert knowledge about each pest crops situation and each slower acting dam conventional pesticides. Moreover, methods developed for a human crop in one area may not applied to another area with slightly different growing condition and although long term cost are typically lower than the cost of using conventional pesticides initial cost may be higher.

In addition, farmers get most of their information about pest control from pest-sales people and from US department of agriculture count-farm Agent, few of home have adequate training in IPM. The small number of IMP advisors and consultant is overwhelmed by army pesticides sales representatives.

 For wide spread use, IPM will have to be developed and introduced to farmers by federal and state agencies. Currently, only 60 million dollar of the USDA’s budget is spent on IPM for research and education. Pesticides companies by contrast spend 1.7 million dollar annually on research and development worldwide.

Indonesia has led the way in the pest management revolution. In 1986, the Indonesian Government banned the use of 57 pesticides on rice and launched a nationwide Programme to switch to IPM. The results were dramatic between 1987 and 1992 pesticides use drop by 65% rice production rose by 15% now country saves about 120 million dollar per on pesticides enough to cover the cost of its IPM Programme. Sweden cut its pesticides use by 50% between 1985 and 1990, and hopes to half it again by 1997. Denmark the Netherland ant the Canadian province of Ontario have passed  Legislation to reduce pesticides use of 50% over the next five to fifteen years.