INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

Integrated pest management [ IPM], which is often termed as “ecosystem approach” to pest management, relies on natural forces of pest suppression.

In general, the main components of IPM approach are pest surveillance, use of pest resistant crop varieties, cultural practices, biological control and use of eco-friendly pesticides with low mammalian toxicity and more ecological safety.

The basic objective of IPM is to maintain a healthy crop with the help of sound agronomic practices, to conserve natural enemies of insect pests and to constantly monitor the pests for suitable interventions.

Pesticides are used only when other methods are unable to contain the pests below economic threshold levels.