Abstract
Implementation of Integrated Pest and Disease Management programme in irrigated cauliflower crop led to reduction in number of conventional pesticide sprays by 50-60 %. The safer biorational pesticides, insect growth regulators and cultural methods of pest management as introduced in the IPM programme were well received by the farmers in farmers’ participatory trainings (FPT). Lower insect and disease incidence with higher curd production was observed in the IPM fields as compared to conventional non IPM fields. Furthermore the module was able to drag the cost of crop protection down by 45 percent resulting in higher benefit-cost ratio. The IPM module led to reinforcement of natural enemies resulting in sustainable and stable pest control regime warranting less pesticide application. Cotesia glomeratus L. was found parasitizing the larvae of Spodoptera litura F. in IPM fields whereas there was no parasitization in non IPM fields. Post implementation evaluation of the IPM programme revealed that the farmers were educated about the right choice of pesticides, proper time and dose of application, pest monitoring and application of pesticides based on action threshold. Increase in participation of women in the IPM programme was ensured by educating them about the mechanical management of S. litura.
Highlights
Cauliflower continues to be important vegetable crop for growers of India
The concern is that the pest control approach currently being followed by farmers is focused on application of highly toxic insecticides and the resistance S. litura has developed against them (Ashwinder Kaur et al, 2006; Niranjan Kumar and Ragupathy, 2000, 2001; Sudhakar and Dhingra, 2002; Kranthi et al, 2002) leading to higher frequency of application of pesticides
The participatory learning sessions resulted in the increased awareness of participants on action threshold concept, importance of soil-borne diseases, recognition of symptoms, scouting for the damage due to H. undalis, S. litura and Alternaria leaf spot (ALS), installation of sex pheromone trap for monitoring of population of S. litura
Summary
Cauliflower continues to be important vegetable crop for growers of India. Most growers continue to apply 10-12 pesticide applications for rainy season crop which last for a period of 4 months from June to mid October (Weinberger & Srinivasan, 2009). The concern is that the pest control approach currently being followed by farmers is focused on application of highly toxic insecticides and the resistance S. litura has developed against them (Ashwinder Kaur et al, 2006; Niranjan Kumar and Ragupathy, 2000, 2001; Sudhakar and Dhingra, 2002; Kranthi et al, 2002) leading to higher frequency of application of pesticides. Attempts to integrate the promising technologies into operational IPM programme have been made in the present study for management of cauliflower pests in farmer’s participatory mode. The study was aimed at participatory farm validation of IPM technology to investigate its appropriateness and acceptance among growers after suitable refinement
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