Integrated pest management in agriculture

"Pest" in this scenario is referred to organisms such as, insects, pathogens, weeds, nematodes, mites, rodents and birds. It is estimated that the annual loss of crops due to insect pests alone is 16 per cent for rice, 11 per cent for wheat, 20 per cent for sugarcane, 25 per cent for vegetables, 15 per cent for jute and 25 per cent for pulse. Our farmers use both traditional and modern methods to control pests. Chemical control (usage of chemical pesticides) in Bangladesh has been the primary method of pest control in the past. Till 1974, the Government promoted the use of pesticides by supplying them to farmers free of cost (100 per cent subsidy). During 1974 this subsidy had been reduced to 50 per cent. By 1979, the subsidy was completely withdrawn and the private sector was allowed to cater to all the pesticide demand throughout the country. In 2003, 3,866 metric tons of active ingredients of pesticides were used in Bangladesh. There are serious negative consequences to the import and usage of chemical pesticides, which are: (a) all these pesticides are imported every year expending hard-earned foreign exchange, (b) indiscriminate and excessive use of pesticides and the long-term dependency on them threaten the sustainability of agricultural production and (c) usage of chemical pesticides, to manage pests, has harmful effect on humans, animals and plant life and thus is a threat to the overall environment.

Therefore, with a view to overcoming these problems, a need to find an alternative to this reliance on pesticides has become imperative and subsequently, the government has adopted the environment friendly Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for controlling pests, which at present is considered to be the most appropriate method in this respect. Since then, IPM has been included in the Fifth Five Year Plan (1997-2002) stating:

In the Fifth Plan Period, the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme will be intensified and expanded in order to safeguard crops from pests and combat environmental degradation due to pesticide uses. Collaboration among the local government representatives, extension workers and NGOs will be sought to expand IPM programme.

Having created much awareness among the farmers, policy makers, politicians, and the general public of the country, the first national conference on IPM was held on 11 February 1999 at the Central Extension Resources Development Institute (CERDI), Gazipur. As a result, the need for formulating a national policy on IPM was considered.

There are many definitions of IPM, but Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations defines IPM as:

A pest management system that, in the context of the associated environment and the population dynamics of the pest species, utilizes all suitable techniques and methods in as compatible a manner as possible and maintains the pest populations at levels below those causing economic injury.

The IPM activities first started in Bangladesh in 1981 with the introduction of the 1st phase of FAO's inter-country programme (ICP) in rice crop. This has played a very significant role in promoting the IPM concept and approach among the donor community. DAE/UNDP/FAO IPM project, funded by UNDP (United Nations Development Program), started in 1997 and DAE-DANIDA Strengthening Plan Protection Services (SPPS) project, funded by DANIDA (Danish International Development Assistance), started in 1997. One of the main objectives of these two projects was to develop and implement the National IPM Policy. Several workshops and discussion meetings were held at national level on IPM Policy and the two projects helped in preparing the drafts of the National IPM Policy. During this period the two projects also provided IPM training to build the IPM training capacity of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and introduced Farmers' Field Schools (FFS) for training of the farmers on IPM. A number of persons from various NGOs were also given training on IPM. Consequently, a number of IPM projects, executed by different government departments and NGOs, in rice and vegetables came into existence. Through the activities of such projects, a large number of core IPM trainers were developed. A total of 1,137 DAE officials, 300 persons from different NGOs and 829 farmer trainers (FT) were given season-long IMP training through several Training of Trainers (ToT) courses.

After the closure of DAE-UNDP/FAO IPM project in 2001 the SPPS project continued its efforts in full swing in proceeding and facilitating the approval of the IPM Policy. The SPPS project revised further the draft National IPM Policy as per requirement of the Steering Committee and submitted the 11th draft to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). The final draft was approved by the Cabinet in April 2002 and subsequently came into gazette notification in May 2002.

The 1st phase of the SPPS project ended in June 2002 and the 2nd phase started from September 2002. One of the objectives of the 2nd phase is to assist the DAE to develop the strategy and action plan for the implementation of IPM Policy. The 2nd phase of the project distributed copies of the Bangla version up to the upazila offices of the 201 upazilas in which the project is operating right now.

The primary objective of the IPM policy is to enable farmers to grow healthy crops in an increased manner and thereby increase their income on a sustainable basis while improving the environment and community health.

IPM training methods in Bangladesh have been designed in such a way that even the illiterate farmers are able to understand and practice because the majority of the farmers in our country cannot read and write.

At present, several organisations/agencies and NGOs are working on IPM but the DANIDA funded 2nd phase of SPPS project is exclusively working on rice and vegetable IPM. The core activity of 2nd phase of SPPS project is to disseminate IPM knowledge through Farmers' Field Schools (FFS). In the 2nd phase of the project of the project the target is to establish a total of 7,800 FFS (4,680 in rice and 3,120 in vegetables) in 201 upazilas of 64 districts and train a total of 195,000 farmers (25 in each FFS) on IPM. In addition, 1,950.000 farmers will be exposed to IPM activities through 7.800 field days. For sustainability of IPM in Bangladesh, the component will also promote the establishment of 7,800 IPM clubs in 201 upazilas and also develop 300 farmer trainers (FT) for expansion of IPM activities through farmer-to-farmer training programme.

The FFS has been proven by the IPM programme in Bangladesh to be a solid and practical mechanism through which new concepts and messages can be conveyed to the farming community where the literacy rate is very low. The FFS, after the end of 14 sessions, are converted to IPM Clubs with the original 25 IPM trained farmers as the club members. The IPM Club concept has proven itself in maintaining the sustainability of the IPM concept amongst the farmer community.

IPM Clubs, with little support from SPPS project, are run by the farmers (FFS graduates) for the farmers in their community. These IPM trained farmers provide IPM services, advice and knowledge to the others. The members of the club meet regularly and discuss field situations, exchange ideas and find solutions to the problems. This is an excellent way of promoting community IPM. The clubs have their own ways of generating funds. They charge a monthly membership fee. The income generating activities range from chicken and duck farming to buying and renting rickshaws, micro credit management, fish culture in rice fields and ponds, to producing and selling healthy seeds etc. Presently, the IPM club is a small new unit in the community but it is a community organisation, which is organised and owned by the community.

It has been clearly understood that DAE/DANIDA funded SPPS project has left a very positive and effective impression in the process of formulating the National IPM Policy and implementing the IPM practice country wide. The awareness of IPM created by the project, amongst the farmers, policy markers, elites and general public, is of enormous magnitude. It has also played a paramount role in establishing a firm ground and infrastructure that can work efficiently and effectively for the promotion, expansion and sustainability of IPM in Bangladesh.

The results of the impact assessment studies highlight the success of the project. Having gained the IPM knowledge, the rice farmers, have been able to reduce the use of pesticides by about 85-95 per cent with an increase of yield of about 10-16 per cent compared to that of the untrained farmers. Similarly, IPM trained vegetable farmers have been able to reduce the use of pesticides use by about 55-80 per cent with an increase of yield of about 12-19 per cent. A number of studies have shown that the adoption rate is close to 95 per cent and estimated internal rate of return (IRR) on project investments in increased household income is 220 -- 250 per cent year (estimated over 20 years).

Considering the positive impact of IPM knowledge, the Government of Bangladesh has started the process of implementing the National IPM Policy. Accordingly, the SPPS project is assisting DAE in the preparation of a strategy and action plan for the implementation of the National IPM Policy involving all the stakeholders. It is highly desired that the government will implement the National IPM Policy and take all necessary steps for the expansion of IPM activities throughout the country. Essential measures and careful planning should be adopted to ensure the widespread dissemination of IPM knowledge throughout the country covering all the upazilas. The government may invite other agencies, NGOs and donors to take part in this important programme in a well coordinated manner, ensuring at the same time to make use of the vast experience that the SPPS project already has, so that the poor farmers of Bangladesh can grow healthy crops, reap better income and at the same time keep the degrading environment clean and safe.

M Tariqul Islam is Administrative Officer, DAE-DANIDA SPPS Project.