Abstract:
The development of synthetic organic pesticides has led farmers to rely
much less on other pest control measures. This in turn gave rise to various
problems. Some of these are direct hazard to the users, resistance
development, secondary pest outbreak, pest resurgence, residues in food
and environmental contamination. Recognition of the problems associated
w ith pesticide use has led to the development of integrated pest
management (IPM).
IPM is an ecologically based pest control strategy that utilizes all
suitable pest control methods in as compatible a manner as possible and
maintains pest populations at levels below those causing economic injury.
Its major principles are understanding the agro-ecosystem, utilization of
economic threshold and avoidance of disruptive actions. The main
components of IMPinclude biological control, mechanical/physical control,
cultural control, host plant resistance and chemical control. Pesticides are
used as a last resort when the other methods have failed to provide the
desired degree of control. During such time the safest pesticide,
formulation, time and method of application are used.
