Abstract

The chemical pathway has been pursued year after year for the sole purpose of increasing food grain production. The over use of chemicals to intensify crop production led to poisoning people and animals as well as polluting the environment. In areas where a high fertilizer dose was used, the problem of salinity, water logging due to the depletion of organic matter and nutritional imbalances in soils has started surfacing and it is now threatening the sustainability of agricultural production. The other problem linked to the over use of pesticides is the contamination of soil and water sources including the aquatic system. Persistent pesticides like BHC and DDT remain in the eco system for a longer period and pose a great danger to the soil fauna and flora. On the one hand, the inorganic fertiliser consumption is continuously increasing and agricultural systems have encountered various kinds of environmental problems and decreased soil fertility etc. On the other hand, our population is also increasing. While considering the population explosion, the foodgrain demand is estimated to be around 260-264 M.T by 2020 A.D. The use of bio-inputs is the best way to reduce fertiliser consumption, to feed the growing population and to retain soil fertility and productivity. The average bio-fertiliser consumption in India is 0.04 kg/ha. Among bio-fertilisers, major growth has occurred with phosphate solubilising micro organisms, which account for about 45 per cent of total bio-fertiliser production and use. The present consumption level of bio-pesticides has increased from around one per cent share in the Indian pesticide market in 2001 to around 2.5 per cent currently and it is expected to reach 12-15 per cent by the end of 2010, mainly through the chorus of Organic Farming (Fertiliser Statistics, 2005; Tamil Nadu Economic Appraisal, 2005). In Tamil Nadu, the usage of bio-inputs has picked up since the inception of integrated pest management in 1985. At present, the production of bio-pesticides is

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