Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as Alternative to Chemical Pesticides with Low Environmental Impact

Abstract

During the last four decades, synthetic chemical pesticides have provided many benefits to agriculture and food production, but they posed some hazardous problems to humans, animals and environment. Chemical pesticides leave undesirable residues in food, water and environment where they are not used properly. It is estimated that one million people are affected by chemical pesticides poisoning every year and more than 20,000 die as a result of being unaware of the risks involved in handling or using of chemical pesticides. This study showed that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was an effective alternative to synthetic chemical pesticides. Also the study revealed that the components of IPM such as cultural practices, biological control, pheromone traps, soil solarisation and plant extracts provided cost effective and environmentally sound methods to control agricultural pests and diseases. As a result many growers and researchers are applying IPM approach to maintain the pest populations at the levels below those causing economically unacceptable damage or loss. Besides this, the study showed the practice of IPM methods in Qatar to manage some insects and diseases affecting date palm trees. The main goal of IPM is to reduce any harmful impact of chemical pesticides may have on humans, wildlife, soil and water quality. The usage of chemical pesticides in the IPM Programme should be rational, judicious and applying at the most vulnerable time in an insect/disease life cycle.