1. Importance and Concepts of IPM
Introduction
Insect pests are major biotic bottleneck in the production of crops inflicting on an average about 30% yield loss amounting to monetary loss of Rs. 1,00, 000 crores. There is thus ample scope to enhance our food production by curtailing losses due to pests. Only option to boost our production remains in growing improved crop cultivars with better pest management options.
Importance and Concepts of IPM
Cabbage butterfly damage

2. Pesticides have played a commendable role in increasing our food production and protecting us against disease vectors. However sole reliance on pesticides has created several problems such as development resistant pests, pest outbreaks, mortality of useful organisms, adverse effect on human health and environmental degradation. Adverse effects of pesticides prompted scientists to look for safer and environment friendly methods of pest control and consequently concept of pest management came in to being.
Aphid infestation on mustard

3. Importance
Pest management is known as an ecological approach to tackle pest problems because here emphasis is on containing pests in such a way that other biotic components of the system such as natural enemies, human beings and wild life are not harmed and environment is preserved in general. Pest management also underlines that pest control tactics should be socially acceptable and within the reach of farmers.
Discussion with farmers

4. To ensure pest suppression and safety of our environment
Purpose of IPM
To ensure pest suppression and safety of our environment
To discourage indiscriminate use of pesticide and conserve natural enemy fauna
To evolve pest control strategies based on host plant resistance, cultural practices, mechanical methods, natural enemies and selective pesticides and botanicals if required.
Honeybees require protection

5. In IPM different methods of pest control such as resistant varieties, cultural methods, physical methods, Biological and pesticides are integrated to suppress pest populations.
An IPM programme should be basically based on conservation of native natural enemies, cultural methods and resistant cultivars and other management tactics should be incorporated based on availability and need.
IPM Concept

6. Concepts of IPM Understanding the agro-ecosystem
Planning the agro-ecosystem
Cost-benefit and benefit-risk
ratio
Tolerance of pest damage
Leaving a pest residue
Timing of treatments
Public understanding and acceptance
Scientist-farmer interaction

7. Understanding the agro-ecosystem
Agro-ecosystems are simpler than natural agro-ecosystems. They contain less diversity of animal and plant species. Agricultural ecosystem is actively manipulated by man. Agro-ecosystems are more susceptible to pest damage and outbreaks. Pesticides kill pests as well their natural enemies. In the absence of natural enemies, resistant pests reach outbreak levels. Secondary pests also become major pests as their their natural enemies are also killed by broad spectrum pesticides.
Carrot crop

8. Planning the agro-ecosystem
In pest management pest problems must be anticipated and avoided through judicious planning. A crop variety should not be grown if it is known to ne highly susceptible. Multiple cropping with a crop should not be practiced as it ensures continuity of pest problem for a longer period of time.
Mixed cropping and intercropping should be encouraged as they help to reduce pest problems.
Tomato + marigold
Coriander and onion intercropped

9. Cost-benefit and benefit-risk
Cost-befit refers to monetary benefit due to pest control efforts. However, pesticide use should not be indiscriminate. Both economic benefit and environment safety are thus essential. Therefore, such pesticides be used which do not harm natural enemies, honey bees, earthworms and other wild life. These should not leave harmful residue on crop produce at the time of their harvest or their consumption. Preference thus should be given to biopesticides like neem, Bt, NPV etc.
Healthy crop of wheat

10. Tolerance of pest damage
One should not panic by seeing a few pests on the crop, because almost all plants can tolerate some foliage loss without any appreciable reduction in crop yield. Economic threshold should be established for different pests and crops Should then be regularly monitored to detect whether pest has reached damage threshold. If it has reached only then pesticide be applied. Besides pests, natural enemies should also be monitored. In the event of sufficient natural enemy population, pesticide application my be avoided or at least areas with high natural enemy population should be spared.
Rice planthopper

11. Leaving a pest residue
IPM lays stress on reducing pest population below economic threshold level and not on complete annihilation of the pests. Because, some pest population is also required for survival of natural enemies of pests, which are important for their suppression. Natural enemies are killed by direct contact with broad spectrum pesticides and also die due to starvation. Efforts thus should be made to conserve natural enemy population.
Blister beetle on bajra

12. Proper timing of treatments
Application of pesticides at right time is absolutely essential as it can reduce frequency as well as quantity of pesticide required for pest suppression. Pesticide treatments should be based on pest monitoring when pest population reaches Economic threshold level. Unwarranted fixed-schedule applications should be avoided. It has been proved that rightly timed one pesticide application proves more effective than ill-timed as many as 4-5 applications.
Pesticide application

13. Public understanding and acceptance
Several IPM programmes have been developed but their public acceptance has been very low. Major reason for this has been found to be absence of Multi-pest management programmes. Most of IPM programmes address single of a couple of pests, while farmers need holistic solution to their pest problems. IPM programme should be developed in consultation with farming community and these should be improved based on their feedback.
Farmers perception and their socio-economic conditions should be borne in mind, while formulation IPM strategies.
Farmers’ training in monitoring

14. Let’s Sum up
Insect pests are major biotic bottleneck in the production of crops inflicting on an average about 30% yield loss amounting to monetary loss of Rs 1, 00, 000 crores.
Agro-ecosystems are simpler than natural agro-ecosystems.
Pest management is known as an ecological approach to tackle pest problems.
In pest management pest problems must be anticipated and avoided through judicious planning.
Both economic benefit and environment safety are thus essential.
Almost all plants can tolerate some foliage loss without any appreciable reduction in crop yield.
IPM lays stress on reducing pest population below economic threshold level and not on complete annihilation of the pests.
Application of pesticides at right time can reduce frequency as well as quantity of pesticide required for pest suppression.
Farmers perception and their socio-economic conditions should be borne in mind, while formulation IPM strategies.