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Entomophaga Park need of the hour: Experts
November 08, 2010 11:06:26 AM
SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR
Entomophaga Park (EP) process in the agriculture field is to control the harmful pests rather than applying the insecticide and pesticide and the insect's population in our field should be developed so that they could attack the damaging pests and control and check the harmful insects on crop naturally.
EP is the presence of beneficiary insects called defenders (predators and parasites of harmful insect pests as they kill them and protect crops) in abundance in the crop fields which can be able to manage the insect pest population in natural way so that chemical pesticide application is not required.
It is eco-friendly and helps in sustainable agriculture. Because of indiscriminate use of chemical applications, the defender population in crop has been reduced causing imbalance in the environment and there is an increase in the pest attack. Besides, the earlier minor pests have become major pests.
The Green Revolution which made us self-dependent in foodgrain production advocates the use of hybrid and high-yielding seeds, besides use of chemical fertiliser and insecticide. However, the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizer and insecticide over the years have resulted in loss of many eco-friendly insects and living organisms present in our ecosystem besides stagnating the productions over the years.
Worried over this, the agriculture scientists have advocated for other alternative measures namely organic farming, Integrated Pest Management and controlling pest menace naturally. Nature has its own creation and checks and balance which cannot be altered at all.
If there are harmful insects that damage the crop, there are also insects which kill them like the exemplary ecological cycle of grass, deer and tiger.
The harmful insects attacking paddy crop are Stem Borer which bore and destroy paddy stem so that the plant dies. The Brown Plant Hopper of paddy also attacks the paddy crop and sucks away the plant cell sap and kills the plant. The Leaf Folder and Case worm also attack the paddy crop and eat away chlorophyll of the leaves and the leaves dry up.
The Aphids, Jassids, Red Cotton bugs and Mealy bugs attack the cotton crop. Moreover, the Boll worm pest feed upon fruits of cotton causing direct loss to the cotton production.
With the introduction of Green Revolution, we aimed at increasing production by introducing and applying more of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. But, due to its application in unscientific manner, we damage our crop eco-system by destroying the beneficial organisms from the environment.
We should apply chemicals when needed and not to prevent pest attacks but to cure the crop from the pest attacks. For prevention, we should go for integration of non-chemical, eco-friendly pest management measures which is called Integrated Pest Management Technology which is being recommended to the farmers.
Organic farming is the farming practice of using only organic products. We recommend integration of organic inputs along with the chemical inputs as per requirements.
To acquaint the farmers on the Entomophaga concept and popularise it among them, a farmers' training was held at Matikhai village of Jogimunda GP under Khaparakhol block and the experts explained the cotton growers about the conservation of these predators and parasites in the eco-system.
The farmers were advised not to apply chemical pesticides and grow eco-friendly crops like maize, cowpea, and red gram with cotton crop which helps in increasing the population of predating insects. Trap crops like castor, marigold and ladies finger can be grown in borders where cotton pests will attack the border crop first and can be controlled easily leaving the main cotton crop pest-free.
Among others, Mihir Kumar Acharya, NC Barik and Kisun Murmu explained the concept and its advantages to the farmers.
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Entomophaga Park need of the hour: Experts
November 08, 2010 11:06:26 AM
SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR
Entomophaga Park (EP) process in the agriculture field is to control the harmful pests rather than applying the insecticide and pesticide and the insect's population in our field should be developed so that they could attack the damaging pests and control and check the harmful insects on crop naturally.
EP is the presence of beneficiary insects called defenders (predators and parasites of harmful insect pests as they kill them and protect crops) in abundance in the crop fields which can be able to manage the insect pest population in natural way so that chemical pesticide application is not required.
It is eco-friendly and helps in sustainable agriculture. Because of indiscriminate use of chemical applications, the defender population in crop has been reduced causing imbalance in the environment and there is an increase in the pest attack. Besides, the earlier minor pests have become major pests.
The Green Revolution which made us self-dependent in foodgrain production advocates the use of hybrid and high-yielding seeds, besides use of chemical fertiliser and insecticide. However, the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizer and insecticide over the years have resulted in loss of many eco-friendly insects and living organisms present in our ecosystem besides stagnating the productions over the years.
Worried over this, the agriculture scientists have advocated for other alternative measures namely organic farming, Integrated Pest Management and controlling pest menace naturally. Nature has its own creation and checks and balance which cannot be altered at all.
If there are harmful insects that damage the crop, there are also insects which kill them like the exemplary ecological cycle of grass, deer and tiger.
The harmful insects attacking paddy crop are Stem Borer which bore and destroy paddy stem so that the plant dies. The Brown Plant Hopper of paddy also attacks the paddy crop and sucks away the plant cell sap and kills the plant. The Leaf Folder and Case worm also attack the paddy crop and eat away chlorophyll of the leaves and the leaves dry up.
The Aphids, Jassids, Red Cotton bugs and Mealy bugs attack the cotton crop. Moreover, the Boll worm pest feed upon fruits of cotton causing direct loss to the cotton production.
With the introduction of Green Revolution, we aimed at increasing production by introducing and applying more of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. But, due to its application in unscientific manner, we damage our crop eco-system by destroying the beneficial organisms from the environment.
We should apply chemicals when needed and not to prevent pest attacks but to cure the crop from the pest attacks. For prevention, we should go for integration of non-chemical, eco-friendly pest management measures which is called Integrated Pest Management Technology which is being recommended to the farmers.
Organic farming is the farming practice of using only organic products. We recommend integration of organic inputs along with the chemical inputs as per requirements.
To acquaint the farmers on the Entomophaga concept and popularise it among them, a farmers' training was held at Matikhai village of Jogimunda GP under Khaparakhol block and the experts explained the cotton growers about the conservation of these predators and parasites in the eco-system.
The farmers were advised not to apply chemical pesticides and grow eco-friendly crops like maize, cowpea, and red gram with cotton crop which helps in increasing the population of predating insects. Trap crops like castor, marigold and ladies finger can be grown in borders where cotton pests will attack the border crop first and can be controlled easily leaving the main cotton crop pest-free.
Among others, Mihir Kumar Acharya, NC Barik and Kisun Murmu explained the concept and its advantages to the farmers.
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