Role of IPM in Controlling Crop Diseases | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

ABSTRACT

In view of environmental and health concerns, a determined effort was made in the last years to reduce and rationalize the use of chemicals (pesticides, fungicides, nematicides etc) worldwide, in order to manage pests/pathogens more effectively. This approach led to the emergence of a new discipline called IPM (integrated pest management). IPM is a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture that focuses on managing insects, weeds and diseases through a combination of cultural, physical, biological and chemical methods that are cost effective, environmentally sound and socially acceptable. This includes the responsible use of crop protection and plant biotech products. As the global population is on the rise, and therefore so is food demand. This means farmers must increase yields on existing lands while protecting biodiversity and looking after the environment. So, IPM provides farmers with tools and strategies to minimize losses caused by insects, weeds and diseases to sustainably maximize production. This paper also highlights the what IPM is, the range of tools, tactics and methods employed in IPM, a step by step approach to implementing an IPM program.