Plant Protection

What to Do?

• Bio-pesticides should be given priority over chemical pesticides.
• Pest Defender ratio to be assessed by farmers before using any pesticide. Agro Eco System Analysis (AESA) based Integrated Pest Management should be adopted.
• Grow such crops surrounding/near the main crop (inter cropping/border cropping) which attract farmer friendly insects which can manage/kill harmful insects.
• Resort to deep ploughing during summer season.
• Use pest resistant varieties of crops such as Bt Cotton and manage pests by adopting crop rotation, inter cropping and trap-cropping.
• Use light trap/sticky trap/pheromone trap for monitoring and mass trapping of the pests.
• Use parasitoids and predators for biological control of the insects, pests and antagonists for diseases.

Use chemical pesticides only if the above listed measures are not effective, that too as per the recommendation of the experts and also take following precaution:

1. Follow all the prescribed safety precautions while using chemical pesticides.
2. While spraying the pesticides, always wear safety gadgets like mask, hand-gloves etc.
3. Always spray in the direction of wind and keep yourself safe from the spray drift.
4. Always keep pesticides, plant protection equipment etc. under lock and key away from children and pets.
5. While purchasing pesticides, you must see the packing and validity date of the chemical.
6. In case of any pesticide poisoning, immediately contact a doctor, also carry the empty container and information booklet of the pesticide used.
7. Pesticides should be used as per the instructions on the label.
8. Disposal of used containers should be as per the instructions given in leaflet.

What Can You Get?

Whom to Contact?

District Agriculture Officer / In-charge KVK / Project Director, ATMA.

Source: Department of Agriculture & Cooperation