IPM in India

The promotion of IPM in India was started as a Central Sector Scheme in 1991by the Ministry of Agriculture – Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Government of India.  In the country, it is considered as a major ecological approach towards Pest Management. It aims at mixing of all the pest control measures known so far, so as to keep the population of pests below the economic threshold level (ETL).

As a system of crop protection, the IPM is an economically justified programme and a sustainable system. It is accepted that the programme will lead to maximum productivity without any major adverse impact on the environment. It is a schedule of different practices having many components like – cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical methods of controlling insect pests, diseases, weeds, and rodents since the time of selection of field till the time of harvesting. 

Characteristic Features of Indian Integrated Pest Management Programme (IIPMP)

The Indian Integrated Pest Management Programme has several characteristic features that are mentioned below-

1. Popularising the approach of IIPMP among the farming community,
2. Assessing pest / disease situation through monitoring and surveillance of pests on regular basis,
3. Studying agro-ecosystems to advise timely control measures under the programme,
4. Developing and rearing the biological control agents as well as protecting the naturally present biological control agents for the control of crop-pests,
5. Promoting the application of bio-pesticides like useful bacterial species, insect pathogens, neem-based and garlic-based materials to replace synthetic chemical pesticides,
6. Playing a catalytic role in the transfer of innovative skills, techniques, and methods of IPM to extension workers and farmers in all the states equitably,
7. Human Resource Development in IPM by imparting training to master trainers, extension workers and farmers by conducting training and establishment of Farmers’ Field Schools (FFSs),
8. Field releases of laboratory-reared bio-control agents for the control of pests;
9. Issuing insect-pest and disease situation bulletins for the benefit of State functionaries and farmers.
10. Issuing insect-pest and disease situation bulletins for the benefit of State functionaries and farmers.

In India, the regulatory measures of Plant Quarantine have been made operational through the “Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914”.The Plant Protection Quarantine (PPQ) is a regulatory system that safeguards agriculture and natural resources from the risks associated with the entry, establishment, or spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds to ensure an abundant, high-quality, and varied food supply.

Conservation Tillage

A method of cultivation of soil, which leaves the crop residue of the previous year on fields before and after planting the next crop, is called as Conservation Tillage.

Crop residues left in the crop fields in this practice include corn stalks or wheat stubble. This type of cultivation is considered to be important in view of checking soil erosion and runoff, and increasing the fertility of soil. At least 30% of the soil surface is left covered with residue after planting the next crop to provide conservation benefits. Some conservation tillage methods forego traditional tillage entirely and leave 70% residue or more.

In some agricultural regions the conservation tillage has become more common than traditional moldboard plowing. It is especially suitable for erosion-prone cropland. Methods of this type of tillage include no-till, strip-till, ridge-till and mulch-till. Each method requires different types of specialized or modified equipment and adaptations in management. No-till and strip-till involve planting crops directly into residue that either hasn’t been tilled at all (no-till) or has been tilled only in narrow strips with the rest of the field left untilled (strip-till). Ridge-till involves planting row crops on permanent ridges about 4-6 inches high. The previous crop’s residue is cleared off ridge-tops into adjacent furrows to make way for the new crop being planted on ridges. Maintaining the ridges is essential and requires modified or specialized equipment. Mulch-till is any other reduced tillage system that leaves at least one third of the soil surface covered with crop residue.

Environmental benefits from Conservation Tillage

The conservation tillage has following environmental benefits –

• It reduces soil erosion by as much as 60%-90% depending on the conservation tillage method;
• pieces of crop residue left in the crop fields shield soil particles from rain and wind until new plants produce a protective canopy over the soil
• This method improves soil and water quality by adding organic matter with the decomposition of the crop residue. As crop residue decomposes, this creates an open soil structure that lets water in more easily, reducing runoff
• This practice conserves water by reducing evaporation at the soil surface
• This practice conserves energy due to fewer tractor trips across the field
• This practice reduces potential air pollution from dust and diesel emissions
• Crop residue left in the crop fields in this method provides food and cover for wildlife
• Fewer trips of tractors across the fields save time and money as it lowers fuels consumption, saves labour, and cost of machinery maintenance; and reduces soil compaction that can interfere with plant growth
• This method optimizes soil moisture, enhancing crop growth in dry periods or on droughty soils

Trickle Drip Irrigation

There are several types of irrigation like: flood irrigation, furrow irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, trickle drip irrigation, and sub-irrigation. The Trickle Drip Irrigation is considered most useful for agricultural crops where as sprinkler irrigation for horticultural crops.

Trickle Drip Irrigation has following Advantages:

• high efficiency of water use
• saline water may be used
• requires little land Levelling
• simultaneous application of water and fertilizer
• higher yield, better quality and uniformity of crop production

As the flood irrigation has been declared to increase salinity of soil it has been discarded for sustainable agriculture. Irrigation by sprinkler and drip system are gaining much popularity now a day. The selection of an irrigation system depends upon – the topography of the land; types of soils; conditions of rainfall and its pattern; availability of water, availability of power, labour and finance.; water storage capacity in the area; and the size of the area being irrigated. The Sprinkler Irrigation is especially suitable for the irrigation of pastures, golf courses, and grasslands.