Integrated Pest Management in Rice-Based Cropping Systems in India

Abstract

Rice is the major staple food crop cultivated widely across diverse eco systems throughout India. In recent years, increasing scarcity of resource inputs coupled with other socio-economic constraints have posed serious challenges in achieving sustainable food production in India. Improved productivity and profitability through the identification of appropriate rice-based cropping systems seems to be the possible solution to mitigate these challenges. However, insect pests are the key biotic stresses posing hurdles in realizing the potential benefits of rice-based cropping systems. Five pests of national significance affecting rice crop yields along with impacts on climate change and its concomitant effects on the agronomies of rice-based cropping systems need to be tackled to ensure ecological, economic, and social benefits for rice farmers. A holistic approach of integrated pest management, with emphasis on biointensive inputs, offers a long-term, eco-friendly solution to the pest problems of this most important and prevalent cropping system of the country.