Impact evaluation indicators of an Integrated Pest Management program in vegetable crops in the subtropical region of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract

A reduction in the amount of active ingredients by weight (low-dosage pesticides replacing pesticides with a higher dosage) is not a strong indicator to measure the impact of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs because the toxicity of the pesticides to humans and the environment is not considered. Although, pesticide use frequency is a good indicator to measure the impact, it does not consider the qualitative aspect of the use of more toxic pesticides of low dosage. The field environmental impact quotient (FEIQ) developed at Cornell University, USA, considers the toxicological aspect of the pesticides used. A field study was conducted to evaluate the long-term impact on vegetable Integrated Pest Management-Farmer Field School (IPM-FFS) Program, implemented in the 2000s, in the sub-tropical Jammu region of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. A sample of 80 IPM-trained and 60 non-IPM farmers were selected for the study. Pesticide use by weight in the non-IPM villages was greater in the cases of cauliflower and eggplant by about 19 and 39%, respectively, but in the case of cabbage and okra it was less by 12 and 26%, compared to the IPM villages. The mean numbers of pesticide applications were lower in the IPM villages by 23, 22 and 40% on cauliflower, okra and eggplant, respectively. Overall, the IPM-trained farmers had reduced pesticide use (active ingredients), by weight by 10%, and by treatment frequency by 29% in vegetable crops. The FEIQ of pesticide use was higher in the IPM villages compared to the non-IPM villages, as the farmers trained under the IPM program applied more toxic pesticides. Pesticide retailers were the key source of information on pesticides for both IPM-trained and non-IPM farmers and they affected the farmers' selection and use. Our study explains that FEIQ of pesticide use in combination with the amount of pesticide-active ingredients and application frequency are good indicators to measure the impact of IPM programs on agriculture. Under the IPM programs, mass media should be utilized to get accurate information about the judicious use of pesticides to as many farmers and pesticide retailers as possible, as reaching 108 million farmers through Farmer Field Schools (FFSs) is not possible.