INSECT PESTS OF RICE IN PAKISTAN: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF BIOLOGY, DAMAGE, AND MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Rice is one of the most significant food crops in the world. It is predominantly a subsistence crop because half of it is consumed where it is grown. The main insect pests of rice in Pakistan include Stem borers, Plant-hoppers, Leafhoppers, rice grass-hopper, leaf-folder, African pink borers, and many others. There have been noticeable changes in Pakistan’s insect pest complex with the introduction of high-yielding cultivars. Many species that work earlier thought to be minor pests are now regarded as serious pests in Pakistan. In traditional Basmati growing regions, stem borers remain a serious issue. From ancient times, the Pakistani farming community used different management strategies to deal with the insect pests of rice. The management strategies involved are cultural, biological, physical, and chemical. Cultural practices have changed, such as the use of greater fertilizers rates in high-yielding varieties, and the leaf folder complex. Rice growers throughout Pakistan are strongly reliant upon traditional cultural practices. But this tendency has slowly changed towards chemical methods. Chemical pesticides are now used more frequently as a primary method of control in Pakistan. Biological control or the use of living organisms as pest control agents is a common natural process in which insects population in crops are continuously decreased by predators, parasites, and pathogens of the pests. Pakistan now has a problem with insect pests, thus utilizing an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy that is effective, affordable, and safe for the environment. Other techniques for pest control include the use of pheromones as attractants, insect growth regulators, insect growth inhibitors, repellents, and sterile insect release systems.