Chapter 4 Pest Management
4.5. S OME S TRATEGIC I NTERVENTIONS
xiii. Revisiting the regulatory practices, and related policies and legislation xiv. Assessing the risks of pesticides and monitoring progress
xv. New sprayer technology to reduce pesticide use
xvi. Nano-technological interventions to reduce pesticide use in crop protection
4.5.1. Access or Accessibility
i. Each state falls under one or more agro-climatic zone(s), which define the region’s crop patterns and unique pest scenario. This needs to be studied and analysed from the perspective of Package of Practices (PoPs) issued by the respective states. This will enable to identify the required kind of pesticides and map them to manufacturers &
importers of formulated pesticides within the state and / or nearby location.
ii. Crop Cluster Development Scheme (CCDS) approach may also be considered. This will help in promoting efficient way of pesticide application.
iii. The rate of pesticide dose in application should be linked to the seed variety in the given crop cluster or agro-climate zone or state, as the case may be.
4.5.2. Cost
A detailed study is required to identify pesticides registered for use in respect of specific crops, identified pests and available manufacturers & importers for the said product. This will be required to identify and ensure the availability of identified and required pesticides in a particular region of interest.
4.5.3. Awareness & education for effective and safe use
i. Basic harmonized training modules be formulated, and translated into all regional languages so that the issues related to safe & effective use of pesticides are addressed holistically. The next step will involve crop specific detailed training based on the generic and not the brand name.
ii. All websites of the State Agriculture & Horticulture departments need be at least bilingual i.e. English & regional/local language. This will help in connecting with other states for new learnings and adoption of best practices.
Pesticides may be considered as an essential item and price control may be opted for generic pesticides similar to the Drug Price Control.
4.5.4. Early warning and preventive measures
The risks involved during crop production, can be reduced by preventive practices involving selective use of pesticides based on pest monitoring and forecast technologies. Forecasts based on agro-meteorological data may help reduce the risk involving pest incidence on the strength of the weather dependency of the host and the parasite. Whether, the outbreaks can be forecast accurately and in time to allow suitable response for control remains uncertain. However, pests whose outbreak is influenced by weather or which require long incubation periods, can be reasonably tackled by weather based forecasts. This is particularly helpful in averting epidemics e.g. in case of wheat, paddy etc.
Pest & disease surveillance is today carried out by the Union Department of Agriculture through its 35 number of CIMPCs (Central Integrated Pest Management Centres). The surveillance is largely manual, and therefore the advice is dated. If new technology platform
based on electronic crop & pest status survey, weather data and data analytics is deployed, the surveillance will become more meaningful and advisories more effective and timely. This will enable the farmers to take appropriate and advanced action, that will minimise the outcome of pest attack.
Some tools like PESTWATCH are available providing on-line information for pest monitoring and forecasting. FAO provides satellite-based images of large locust habitat areas supported by rainfall and green vegetation data for the technical staff for purpose of monitoring and intervening to check their population. Such modules may be developed or adopted for pest surveillance for large areas like that of state/district/clusters.
Harmonization of data obtained from different centres is necessary keeping in view the regional variations in farming practices.
Calendar spraying of pesticides as a strategy helps maintain lower risk of crop loss due to pest infestation.
It is advised to adopt IPM as a pest management approach. It is essentially an ecological approach to pest management, requiring the knowledge of the interaction between pests and their environment (abiotic & biotic). Hence, understanding the factors involved affecting population abundance of the pest during the crop season and off season, would guide in formulating strategies of their management.
Nuclear technique, also known as sterile insect technique (SIT) is one of the IPM practices, that can be promoted in managing fruit flies, moths etc. It is a form of sterilization of insects and systematic release of huge number of male insects. The sterile males compete with insects in the wild, and through mating with wild females, contribute to reducing overall pest numbers.
4.5.5. Prophylactic measures
Promote awareness of IPM, precision farming, cluster farming approach or training of Farmer Produce Organizations (FPO) along with trainings on the safe & judicious use of pesticides and timely availability of advanced technologies.
Promotion of right information, knowledge and skill on pest management and pesticide use is critical to minimal and effective use.
4.5.6. Registration of pesticides
Time bound registration, particularly of pesticides that are needed on priority is essential.
Alternatives should be promoted, so that there is no monopoly practice. Responsible marketing by the pesticide industry through qualified retailers/dealers is important.
The quality of pesticides (both imported and domestically manufactured) in the country can be assured by mandatory implementation of i) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP); ii) Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) for chemical & biological evaluations; iii) Crop Grouping for
enabling enhanced label approvals; and iv) Minor change regulation for formulations to reduce use of harmful additives/adjuvants by more environmentally friendly ones, etc.